Saskatoon Fire Department recognizes civilian with Award of Merit
The Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) is pleased to recognize Joe Madden for his actions that resulted in safely evacuating tenants of a burning home.
In the early morning of November 28, 2022, Madden was leaving a local convenience store when he saw a fire coming from a home on the corner of Main and Clarence. There were no emergency vehicles present, so Joe called 9-1-1.
Joe proceeded to pound on the door in case there were residents inside the home. Two residents woke up to Joe’s knock and were able to get themselves and their two pets out the door and safely across the street.
Having previous experience with a basement suite, Joe made the smart decision to check the home for basement tenants. Pounding on the door at the back of the house, Joe was able to help two more people get out of the basement and safely across the street.
In total, Joe saved four people, a cat, and a budgie out of the house.
SFD received a call at 1:07 a.m. reporting a structure fire on the 900 block of Main Street. Arriving on scene, fire crews found visible flames on the exterior of a home with the fire advancing into the roof. Firefighters brought the fire under control by 1:42 a.m. The cause of the fire was undetermined and damage was estimated at $150,000.
“Joe's decisive actions undoubtedly saved lives that day, reminding us of the incredible impact individuals can have in extraordinary circumstances,” says Fire Chief Morgan Hackl. “We commend Joe for his exemplary actions and commitment to safety.”
Madden was presented with an Award of Merit on June 23, 2023 in a small ceremony at Fire Station No.1.