Fire crews responded to a major blaze in Three Fathom Harbour on Thursday afternoon that damaged several buildings and threatened nearby woods.

Assistant Chief Steven Turner with Halifax Fire says firefighters arrived to find four buildings already engulfed in flames.

Crews first worked defensively to knock back the bulk of the fire before moving to extinguish smaller hotspots that had spread into the surrounding brush.

Turner said conditions were difficult due to the heat, but all residents and firefighters were safe. “Everybody was able to get out safely and despite pretty tough working conditions in the heat, our firefighters did well,” he said.

The location raised serious concerns because of how close the fire was to the woods.

Turner noted the area is heavily forested, with thick underbrush that could have fueled a much larger blaze.

Crews requested support from the Department of Natural Resources, which worked alongside firefighters to keep the flames from spreading further.

While investigators are working to determine the official cause, Turner said most of the buildings involved sustained significant damage.

Crews are expected to remain at the site into the evening to fully extinguish hotspots, while DNR will continue monitoring the woods in the days ahead.