'It's so needless': Shock as Halifax Public Gardens building hit by second suspicious fire

The oldest part of the Halifax Public Gardens has been damaged by a suspicious fire.

A historic building in the Halifax Public Gardens has been damaged by a suspicious fire.

Emergency crews were called to the Horticultural Hall near the gardens’ front entrance around 11 p.m. Monday.

Halifax Fire District Chief Rob Hebb says the fire was quickly extinguished, but it did damage the front façade and part of the deck.

The fire did not spread and no one was hurt.

As a result, the morning opening of the gates was delayed more than three hours Tuesday as officials secured the property.

“It just hits me in the pit of my stomach,” says long-time garden volunteer Sandra McCulloch. “It’s so needless and so vengeful and so hateful. We don’t understand it.”

McCulloch says volunteers were set to meet for orientation in the hall next week.