Latest news with #HalifaxFire
CTV News
12-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Halifax municipal accounts leave X, prompting questions about emergency communications
Halifax Fire is leaving the social network X and shifting to Bluesky. The Halifax Regional Municipality has officially launched accounts on the social media platform Bluesky – and will soon be leaving X, formerly Twitter, prompting questions about emergency communications. The primary HRM account, Halifax Fire & Emergency and Halifax Public Libraries are among six accounts making the switch. They will be inactive on X by July 14. While emergency municipal alerts (hfxALERT) are separate from social media, public safety and emergency communication are key focus areas for any government considering changing its social media presence, too. 'It's very top of mind, in fact, it's the primary and the first consideration when they start talking about what platforms to use,' says Giles Crouch, a digital anthropologist who is working with cities across Canada and the U.S. that are considering different platforms. 'The number one thing is, 'What do we do in emergencies and what platform works?'' That's why some emergency organizations are sticking with the status quo. Halifax Regional Police, Halifax Water and Halifax Public Libraries are all excluded from the move, the municipality said in a news release on Wednesday, as 'they each have unique governance structures, oversight boards and their own communications teams.' 'I think it would be a little irresponsible for us to switch to a new platform at this point in time,' Halifax Regional Police Const. Martin Cromwell told CTV News Atlantic on Thursday. Halifax Regional Police A Halifax Regional Police shoulder badge is pictured. (Source: Callum Smith/CTV News Atlantic) That's because a lot of the force's social media usage is for public safety messaging, and he says they don't want to leave behind nearly 140,000 X followers. 'For us to switch from this platform, our current platform, may be damaging to people,' he says. 'They may not get that messaging.' In April, city councillors voted 16-to-one in favour of cutting ties with its X as an official social media platform. 'It's a decision that was taken as a result of public input that was gathered‚' says Mayor Andy Fillmore. 'It was also a part of a scan of other jurisdictions, and I'm supportive of it. X has become a bit of a gnarly place.' Councillor David Hendsbee was the lone dissenting vote. 'It's just political backlash that people have become very populist about,' he says. 'I just felt that, even though the Twitter was bought up by Elon Musk and renamed or rebranded X, it's still a very popular platform a lot of people are using.' All municipal accounts – except for Halifax police, Halifax Water, and Halifax Public Libraries – will be removed from X by July 14. The municipality and Halifax Fire both refused an interview Thursday, instead offering a statement. The union representing Halifax firefighters says it will still use X, as it's been a 'very effective tool for us in engaging people on public safety issues.' In a statement to CTV News Atlantic, the provincial government says its goal is to reach as many people as possible. 'We recognize that some Nova Scotians are leaving X, but at this time we are maintaining our X account to ensure we aren't leaving anyone behind,' says Alyse Hand, a spokesperson with the Executive Council Office. 'This is especially important for emergency situations where we want to use all communications platforms available.' Crouch says there are fewer bots on Bluesky, as it's 'harder to be automated and run the bots' when compared to X. 'It is becoming increasingly difficult to determine what is real and what isn't, especially as we see improvements with artificial intelligence creating videos and images as well,' Crouch says. Halifax City Hall Halifax City Hall is pictured. (Source: Callum Smith/CTV News Atlantic) For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
Global News
07-06-2025
- General
- Global News
Halifax's AI surveillance system inactive for new wildfire season – and the public wasn't told
Halifax has been without an AI wildfire surveillance system since October when the pilot project ended. For residents who were directly impacted by the Tantallon wildfires and for councillors in districts in which these towers were located, this is the first time they're hearing the program is offline. 'It's a bit of a dangerous time to maybe not have all things focused on the task at hand,' said Richard O'Fegan, Westwood Hills Residents Association president. He says he was excited when he first heard about the FireScout pilot program that ran from March until October 2024. O'Fegan viewed it as a step in the right direction for wildfire prevention, especially after his community was burned down in the 2023 Tantallon wildfire. 1:48 N.S. unable to lay charges in 2023 wildfire despite 'exhausting all possible avenues' He's now disappointed to hear the program was quietly paused. Story continues below advertisement 'We're not approaching anytime soon that there'll be less wildfires that occur, so investments in that area and really communicating to the greater community of what the efforts are … is very, very crucial,' he said. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The pilot program saw AI surveillance cameras installed to monitor areas for smoke and fire on a 24/7 basis. The cameras were installed in Hammonds Plains, Lower Sackville and Musquodoboit Harbour. Halifax Fire deemed the pilot a success but says it was ended after the company running the software discontinued their service. Global News reached out to Alchera X, which built FireScout, but did not hear back by deadline. Halifax Fire declined an on-camera interview, but Deputy Fire Chief Dave Meldrum says in a statement they are working with staff to assess the results of the pilot. Currently, there is no completion date on the assessment or information on when procuring a new service will start. Coun. John Young says the city should have taken more steps to ensure there wasn't a gap in service and that residents were informed. 'We don't want to be left behind like we were before in trying to put things together as they happen,' said Young. 'We have to be more preventative, we have to be more precautionary and also … we have to do things a little different than how they've been done in the past.' Story continues below advertisement — with a file from Rebecca Lau
CTV News
03-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Homes evacuated in Dartmouth's north end after gas leak
Nova Scotia Power crews respond to a gas leak in Dartmouth, N.S., on June 3, 2025. (Mike Lamb/CTV Atlantic) Some homes have been evacuated in the north end of Dartmouth, N.S., as emergency crews respond to a natural gas leak Tuesday. Halifax Regional Police and Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency responded to the 0-50 block of Primrose Street before 10 a.m. 'Our hazardous materials team from Station 5 and Station 12 isolated the area, evacuated nearby residences, and controlled ignition sources while the gas company worked to clamp the line and stop the leak,' said the Halifax Professional Fire Fighters Association in a Facebook post. 'Air monitoring and safety assessments continued throughout the incident, with evacuation zones adjusted as needed.' Primrose Street and Jackson Road are both closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic between Robert Burns Drive and Pinecrest Drive. Police are asking people to stay away from the area and use alternate routes. This is the second natural gas leak to prompt evacuations in the Halifax area in less than a week. Part of Halifax's south end was shut down Friday morning due to a gas leak on Queen Street. The situation was brought under control about two hours later. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CTV News
30-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Gas leak shuts down Queen Street in Halifax
A gas leak in Halifax shut down Queen Street on Friday May 30, 2025. (CTV Atlantic/ Carl Pomeroy) Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency and Halifax Police are investigating a gas leak on Queen Street in Halifax. Police have closed Queen Street from Morris Street to Victoria Road to vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Fenwick Street is also closed. The QEII's Victoria General asks patients, visitors and staff not to go to the hospital at this time. Those already in the hospital are asked to remain in the building until the issue is resolved. An evacuation order has been issued in the immediate area and power has been turned off in the surrounding electric grid. Police are asking the public to avoid the area and take alternate routes to avoid delays. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CBC
30-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Researchers work to improve communications equipment for first responders
Researchers working with Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency are making it their mission to improve communication equipment used by first responders. The project, led by the Nova Scotia Community College's applied research team, aims to upgrade an existing device that enhances radio coverage. It's called a digital vehicular repeater system (DVRS) and it's typically built into emergency vehicles — but it can only reach so far. The device can cut out in areas where there are often cellular brownouts, like in concrete buildings or underground areas. In some situations, this can not only slow first responders down, but it can be dangerous for them. "This radio is a line of safety for them so they're able to call emergencies, they're able to reach out to their peers to get assistance," said Mark Burgess, Halifax Fire's division chief of technology and innovation. "If they cannot communicate, then they cannot do that." To soften this issue, Halifax Fire's communications technician created a prototype of a portable DVRS. It allows first responders to carry it with them and extend radio connection, rather than it being built into an emergency vehicle. Burgess said the prototype is not yet being used in emergency situations, but Halifax Fire has been testing it for the last few months. The organization has since given the prototype to researchers with Nova Scotia Community College's applied research team in hopes of making it even better. Jacob Woods, a research associate with the team, said one issue identified with the current prototype is how heavy it is. "So they're in a rush to get out — 30 seconds, a minute — doesn't sound like much," Wood said. "For a firefighter who's trying to respond to an emergency, it adds some pretty significant time." He said they're hoping to make the device lighter so it's easier to carry. "In a perfect world, we're hoping to really slim down the size of this," Woods said. "But we're still in the early preliminary stages here, just getting a better sense of what's in the box, what the equipment is and what we can do with it." Fire departments have been seeing an increase in calls in the last few years, Burgess said, which will require better equipment. "Any time that we are able to go in and do our job safely, that's a benefit to the public," he said.
