A fire that started in a clothes dryer in a GoodLife Fitness gym forced a downtown Halifax hotel to evacuate Saturday evening after heavy smoke filled the building. Guests were moved from the Barrington Hotel, formerly a Delta, to the food court of the Scotia Square mall, according to Halifax Fire and Emergency. The fire department was called at 9:15 p.m. and discovered a small fire on the lower level of the gym, which is attached to the hotel. He said police officers and hotel staff helped alert guests and ensured they left their rooms. Halifax Regional Police said the hotel was cleared to reopen at 11:22 p.m.A section of Barrington Street between Cogswell Street and Duke Street was closed for about an hour.

Source: CBC News February 10, 2019 12:33 UTC