Allen (Mick) MacFarlane
Badge #81
1953-1980
LODD
A Halifax firefighter died at the scene of an early morning blaze on Gottingen Street which gutted two buildings and severly damaged a third. Alan MacFarlane died while battling a two alarm fire located on the 2100 block of Gottingen.
Platoon Chief Tom Abraham said that Mr MacFarlane was surveying the scene behind the burning building when he collapsed. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Victoria General Hospital in Halifax.
The cause of the fire has not yet been established but it is thought to have been the result of an electrical fault in one of the buildings or a malfunctioning furnace. Arson has been ruled out but an investigation was ongoing.
Fireman dies battling Sunday blaze
A Halifax firefighter died Sunday at the scene of an early morning blaze on Gottingen Street which gutted two buildings and severely damaged a third. Allan (Mick) MacFarlane, 51 died while battling the two alarm fire which wrecked the adjacent businesses of Louis Pizza and Donair and Lab Discount Store, located on the 2100 block of Gottingen.
Dr. Ian Morris, Halifax County Medical Examiner ordered an autopsy into the death. Platoon Chief Tom Abraham said Mr. MacFarlane, a 29 year veteran of the department, was surveying the scene behind the burning building when he collapsed. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Victoria General Hospital. The cause of the fire has not yet been established, but it is thought to have been the result of an electrical fault in one of the building or a malfunctioning furnace. Arson has been ruled out but an investigation is continuing.
Buildings to the north and south of the fire suffered extensive smoke and water damage.
A family of four living above the pizza store has been left homeless by the fire. They were awakened by the fire and escaped unharmed.
By 10 a .m. more than six and a half hours after the flames erupted, four of the five fire trucks that responded to the call remained on hand, and police still had the area blocked off from traffic. A small, quiet crow gathered across the street from the wreckage to observe the cleanup and inspection of damage as the smell of smoke lingered in the damp, chilly morning air.
HALIFAX FIREFIGHTERS battled a two alarm blaze on Gottingen Street early Sunday. The fire, which gutted two downtown businesses, Lewis Pizza Donair and Lab Discount, seriously damaged an adjacent community center and caused smoke and water damage to nearby buildings. Fire apparatus remained on the scene some six hours the eruption of flames following. Below. Captain Ken Harlan hands out footwear to a woman who lived above the pizzeria. A family of four, who escaped unharmed, was left homeless the result of the blaze (Wamboldt-Waterfield)
Eulogy from the Chronicle Herald newspaper
Veteran Halifax firefighter dies
Veteran Halifax fireman Alan R. (Mick) MacFarlane. 51. of Greenwood Heights. Timberlea, died Sunday morning while fighting a fire in the north end of Halifax. Born in Halifax he was the son of the late James and Edith (Inns) MacFarlane. He was 29 year veteran of the Halifax Fire Department and a well know athlete. He was active in minor sports in the province as well as the Halifax and District Senior Softball League. He is survived by his Wife the former Florence Cook, four sons: Paul, Oromocto, N B, Peter, Mark and Andrew, at home one sister Helen Mrs. Ronald Sinclair Dartmouth, and three brothers Kenneth. Dartmouth, Ronald, Toledo, Ohio and Gerald, Oakville, Ontario.
Beside his parents, he was predeceased by a sister, Doris O’Neil. Following cremation, a memorial service will be held Tuesday at 8 p m in St Andrews. Anglican Church. Timber lea. Rev David Boston officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Nova Scotia Heart Foundation or the Firefighters Mercurial Dystrophy Fund.