HAVOC IN HALIFAX

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23259, 21 July 1945, Page 5

HAVOC IN HALIFAX

Ammunition Depot Fire Controlled '7.30 p.m.) HALIFAX, July 19. The big fire which occurred in the Royal Canadian Naval Ammunition depot in Nova Scotia has been brought under control. There is still some danger that ammunition will explode, and thousands of people in Halifax and Dart mouth are barred from their homes. People living- in the northern part of Halifax are being permitted to go home. The entire civilian population of Dartmouth, of 17,000, and residents of Northern Halifax were evacuated as the fires approached the main magazine containing 50,000 depth charges. However, the blaze is subsiding. The main magazine is untouched and appears safe, although explosions at the depot were continuing at dawn. An unconfirmed report stales that the biases started, when a barge loading al one magazine caught fire. In the wake of each successive explosion. when the fire was at its. height, projectiles hurled into the sky. while snowflake rockets—used for illuminating target areas—flowered over the scene amid a thick pull of smoke. The Canadian Press said that the first explosion gutted all the buildings in tlie magazine area and tore great holes in them. Debris, ammunition boxes, and exploded shells littered the roads. The explosions showered two fire tugs will) shells and debris, and drove them back to the sea. Several ships moored at. the magazine jetties are reported to be badly damaged. Wooden jellies were blown into the harbour. Telephone lines in the Sambro area. 27 miles away, were brought down. One road leading from Halifax was lined with cars bumper to bumper extending for 10 miles, ns people sought to flee as far as possible.