HALIFAX - Insurance companies for homeowners affected by a forest fire last year in Halifax are suing the city and the fire department.

CBC-TV reports the companies filed 18 separate lawsuits Wednesday claiming about $10 million in damages, with each claim representing a family with either a lost or damaged home.

The CBC reports that over the past several months, insurance companies have paid out millions of dollars to people with properties affected by the blaze a year ago this Friday near Purcells Cove.

Hundreds of people were evacuated.

The insurance companies allege the city was negligent in how it fought the massive blaze.

Fire official Dave Meldrum told the CBC the department will defend itself in court.

"We're concerned with all the allegations," said Meldrum. "We think that they're wrong and they're incorrect and we will defend them in court.

"That day was a tragic circumstance. Our firefighters put themselves on the line. They worked long hours, they train hard hours to protect life and to protect property."

The lawsuits allege the fire department, among other things, should never have left some hotspots unattended and once the fire spread, firefighters did not establish an effective command.

The suits also allege there was a delay in calling in more firefighters, that firefighters went to the wrong spots, and they took too long to call in helicopters from the province.

None of the allegations made in the lawsuits has been proven in court.

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