Fire flattens popular Halifax tavern
North End Pub razed, nobody hurt
By JOHN GILLIS Staff Reporter
The North End Pub, a Gottingen Street landmark, was destroyed by fire Wednesday afternoon.
Staff said a smoky odour was quickly followed by a major blaze that burned most of the building to the ground within about two hours.
No one was hurt in the fire, but at least two people were left homeless and about 25 watched their workplace crumble.
The building also housed the North End Diner.
Jim Carrey, a cook, said he noticed a smell like cinnamon sticks shortly before 2 p.m. He and a manager looked for the source of the odour but couldn't find anything.
Then they spotted flames between the kitchen and an office, called 911 and ushered patrons out of the bar and dining room.
"It happened so fast, it was unreal," said Mr. Carrey, who has worked at the pub for just over a year. "It was a matter of minutes. The smoke just filled the whole place up."
There was heavy smoke and fire in the building when Halifax regional firefighters arrived, Acting Platoon Chief Pat Keating said. Two groups of firefighters were inside for about 10 minutes but had to be ordered out.
"Its progression was literally exponential," he said. "It really grabbed a hold fast."
Another employee, who didn't want to give his name, said he was relieved everyone got out safe but was mourning the loss of a part of the neighbourhood.
"It's a big piece of history lost here," said the 13-year employee. "I don't know where we're going from this."
At least two men lived in an apartment above the diner. Dennis Rice, a friend and regular visitor to the apartment, said the men were members of a Slayer tribute band called War Ensemble and lost thousands of dollars’ worth of instruments and recording equipment.
Firefighters were hosing down a new six-unit apartment building next to the pub. The fire was perilously close but the building seemed to be safe.
Peter Jabbour, co-owner of the building, arrived to make sure his 15 to 20 tenants were safe. He didn’t know Wednesday afternoon whether those people would be able to return home that evening.
Shortly before 3 p.m. the front walls of the diner at the south end of the building began to collapse. Thick smoke changing from white to grey to black blew south down Gottingen Street and could be seen as far away as Highway 103 near Tantallon.
Half of the marquee, advertising a Wednesday karaoke night hosted by Dan Banfield, melted off soon after 3 p.m. and a loud explosion rang through the neighbourhood 15 minutes later.
Military police from CFB Stadacona, directly across the street, moved back dozens of onlookers, many aiming cellphone cameras at the blaze.
The base’s Gottingen Street gate was closed but work wasn’t affected.
One longtime regular said that sailors from the base made up a large part of the pub’s clientele. "It’s an end of an era," said the man. He said he was a frequent visitor during his 25 years in the navy and that many regulars called the bar Joe Comeau’s after a former owner.
"Everybody used to say, ‘You’re going down to Joe’s for a beer,’ even though it was the North End Pub," he said.
The pub and diner were owned by Grafton Connor Group, which also owns businesses such as the Five Fishermen and the Dome in Halifax. Some Grafton Connor staff were at the scene Wednesday afternoon but wouldn’t comment.
Coun. Patrick Murphy (Halifax North End) said the pub was a great meeting spot.
"It’s a shame," he said. "Hopefully (Grafton Connor) may deem it wise to rebuild."
Gottingen Street was closed between North and Bilby streets, and Almon Street was closed east of Agricola Street for most of the afternoon.
Shortly before 6 p.m. Acting Platoon Chief Keating said there were still flames at the site but the fire was "close to under control."
The cause of the blaze hadn’t been determined, but Divisional Chief Bryson Wilson said fire crews would be at the scene into the evening. He said the bitter cold on Wednesday afternoon, with temperatures feeling like -20 C because of the wind chill, had not caused any problems so far. But water was freezing instantly and had the potential to affect people and equipment.
( jgillis@herald.ca)
