Multiple Suspicious Overnight Fires - Structures/Garbage Bins
On May 14, 2020 between the hours of 2:59 a.m. and 3:16 a.m., the Saskatoon Fire Department responded to multiple reports of structures and commercial garbage bins on fire in the Pleasant Hill and Meadowgreen neighbourhoods. One additional commercial garbage bin fire was reported in the Lawson Heights neighbourhood at approximately 6:56 a.m.
Incident Timeline:
2:59 a.m. - three fire engines, one rescue unit, one aerial ladder truck, one fire investigation unit, and one battalion chief are dispatched to the 1900 block of 20th Street West for reports of two garage-like structures on fire; both structures belong to the same property, one with access from the street and the other from the alley. Firefighters bring the structure fires under control simultaneously within 10 minutes of arriving on scene. The property was boarded-up and confirmed to be unoccupied; no injuries are reported as a result of the incident.
3:07 a.m. - while extinguishing a structure fire from the street-side of a property in the 1900 block of 20th Street West, fire crews observe one commercial garbage bin on fire in an alley on the 2000 block of 20th Street West. One fire engine is re-deployed from the ongoing structure fires to attend to the garbage bin. Firefighters quickly extinguish the fire and check for extension to a nearby power pole and transformer; no extension of the fire is found.
3:09 a.m. - fire dispatchers receive multiple 911 calls reporting two commercial garbage bins on fire in the 500 block of Avenue X South. One fire engine is dispatched for response. Fire crews extinguish the fires in less than 10 minutes of arriving on scene.
3:16 a.m. - while on scene in the 500 block of Avenue X South, firefighters locate one additional commercial garbage bin on fire further down the block. The fire is fully extinguished minutes after the previous two.
6:56 a.m. - fire dispatchers receive a single 911 call reporting a commercial garbage bin on fire in the 100 block of Reindeer Road. One fire engine is dispatched for response. A small fire is extinguished in less than three minutes of arriving on scene using the fire engine's on-board water supply.
These fires are considered to be suspicious in nature and are under investigation by both the Saskatoon Fire Department and the Saskatoon Police Service. Members of the public are encouraged to report non-emergent suspicious activity by calling 306-975-8300; in an emergency, call 911 immediately.