Saskatoon Fire - News Releases
Saskatoon News Releases
Vehicle Fire - 100 Block of Chitek Crescent
June 1, 2023 - 7:00 am
On May 31, 2023 at 11:09 a.m., the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) received a 9-1-1 call reporting a waste disposal truck on fire. Two fire engines were dispatched. On arrival, the fire crews reported the vehicle was fully involved in fire. A Fire Investigator was requested to attend. The fire was brought under control at 11:24 a.m.
SFD's Fire Investigator has concluded the fire investigation. Damage is estimated at $235,000 and the vehicle is a total loss. Fire originated in the hydraulic area behind the cab. Cause of the fire is accidental due to a mechanical failure.
The operator of the vehicle was able to safely evacuate the cab prior to the fire entering the driver's compartment. No injuries to the occupant or firefighters occurred as a result of this fire.
Saskatoon Fire Department releases 2023-2026 Strategic Plan
May 31, 2023 - 4:30 pm
- Advance Community Resiliency
- Community Safety & Well-being
- Risk Assessment
- Partnerships & Relationships
- Maximize Service Excellence
- SFD Master Plan
- Asset Planning & Management
- Organizational Performance
- Data & Technology
- Be Reconciliation, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
- Truth & Reconciliation
- Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
- Synergize Training & Development
- Employee Safety & Wellness
- Professional Development
- Interdisciplinary Training Model
Today, the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) made public its 2023-2026 Strategic Plan (“Plan”). The Plan articulates SFD’s individual work plans, program development, business planning, and annual budgeting to support divisional and corporate priorities.
The Plan focuses on four strategic goals and 12 corresponding initiatives:
“This document is a really important resource for us as our fire service continues to evolve,” says Fire Chief Morgan Hackl. “Our Strategic Plan charts a course that embraces partnerships, leverages technology and fosters a culture of continuous improvement. With a clear vision in mind, we can remain at the forefront of firefighting and emergency response and shape a safer and more resilient community.”
The Plan will be presented to the Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services on June 6, 2023.
Structure Fire - 200 Block of Avenue V South
May 29, 2023 - 9:00 am
At 8:19 p.m. on May 28, 2023, the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) received a 9-1-1 call for a possible fire in an apartment building in the 200 Block of Avenue V South. Three fire engines, one ladder truck, one rescue unit and the Battalion Chief were dispatched. First arriving fire crew reported flames showing from a 3rd story suite of an apartment building. There were occupants needing assistance in evacuating due to heavy smoke in the hallways. Two additional fire engines were dispatched to assist with evacuation and fire suppression.
Fire crews assisted with evacuating 4 occupants who were trapped in their suites. Fire was brought under control at 9:04 p.m. The Fire Investigator was requested to attend.
The fire separation door that serves the suite that opens into the hallway was left in the open position. This allowed smoke to leave the fire suite and fill up the hallway subsequently making it impassable for some occupants in other suites to evacuate safely.
Twenty-six occupants were rehoused to a local hotel.
The fire scene was turned over to the Fire Investigator. Cause of the fire is suspicious. Two origins were identified in a suite on the 3rd floor. A fire was identified in a bedroom and another fire located in the living room. Damage is estimated at $400,000 of the 4 story, apartment building.
One occupant was transported to hospital by the ambulance service for smoke inhalation and later released. No injuries to firefighters occurred as a result of this fire.
Property owner arranged to have the building secured.
The Saskatoon Police Service will continue their portion of the investigation.
Structure Fire - 100 Block of 32nd Street West
May 28, 2023 - 9:45 am
At 5:13 a.m. on May 28, 2023, the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) received a call for a possible structure fire in the 100 block of 32nd Street West. Three fire engines, one ladder truck, one rescue unit and the Battalion Chief were dispatched in response. First arriving fire crew reported flames coming through the roof of a boarded up, one and half story, single family dwelling unit. An exterior extinguishment was initiated upon arrival. All incoming fire crews were assigned their tactical duties. Utility services were shut down for safety precautions at the fire scene. Fire crews removed plywood from various points of entry to create egress for firefighter safety upon entering the structure.
The fire was brought under control at 6:49 a.m. Fire crews completed extinguishment and turned over the fire scene to the Fire Investigator at 7:39 a.m.
SFD attended a fire at this property previously on March 25, 2023. The structure was closed at that time for no occupancy, and a repair order had been placed on the property.
Cause of this fire is still under investigation with $80,000 in fire damage being sustained. Total fire damage from both fires is estimated at $160,000. The SFD Fire Investigator will continue the fire investigation. An update will be sent once the investigation has completed.
The structure is being re-secured at this time by the property owner. No injuries were sustained as a result of this fire.
Motor Vehicle Accident - 22nd Street and Diefenbaker Drive
October 8, 2022 - 9:28 am
At 10:41 p.m. on October 7, 2022, the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) Communications Center received a call for a motor vehicle accident involving a semi and an SUV with possible entrapment. Two fire engines, one rescue unit and the Battalion Chief were dispatched. The first fire crew arrived at 10:45 p.m. and confirmed air bags deployed and patients trapped in the vehicle. The driver's side door required removal with hydraulic tools. Two patients were in the vehicle, a driver and a front passenger. The passenger door was able to be pried opened by firefighters without tools. Fire crews removed a female patient from the passenger side of the vehicle and began providing immediate medical care. The other fire crews were preparing for the removal of the driver door to extricate the driver. At 10:54 p.m., the door was removed and firefighters began immediate medical care on a male.
Medical care of both patients was transferred to the ambulance service and their crews. Three SFD primary care paramedics rode in the ambulances to the hospital to assist the ambulance crews with patient care. Our firefighters were picked up at the hospital and returned to their fire stations. Current status of the patients is not known to the SFD.
The Saskatoon Police Service continue their accident investigation.
Fire crews were requested and responded at 7:55 a.m. on October 8, 2022 back to the site of the accident by the Saskatoon Police Service. Firefighters cleaned up fluids that had leaked onto the street.
The Saskatoon Fire Department employs 280 firefighters of which 140 are primary care paramedics.
Grass Fire - Wanuskewin Road and Penner Road
October 5, 2022 - 7:03 pm
At 4:01 p.m. on October 5, 2022, the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) received a report of a grass fire in the area of Wanuskewin Road and Penner Road. One fire engine, two brush trucks, two tanker trucks and the Battalion Chief responded to the grass fire. The first arriving fire crew reported no structures at risk of exposure to the fire. All incoming fire crews were assigned their duties. SFD remains on scene at this time. The grass fire continues to be extinguished and brought under control.
An SFD Fire Investigator will not be attending. The grass fire is outside Saskatoon's city limits.
High Angle Rescue - Taylor Street & Circle Drive
September 30, 2022 - 5:39 pm
At 12:57 p.m., on September 30, 2022, the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) received a call for a female hanging off the overpass on Taylor Street over Circle Drive. Dispatched were one fire engine, one ladder truck, one rescue unit and the Battalion Chief. First arriving crew at 1:01 p.m. reported a female hanging over the freeway requiring rescue. Incoming fire crews were assigned their duties on their arrival. At 1:05 p.m., the ladder truck, SFD's Ladder 8 set up and got in position to rescue the female. A firefighter entered the area and was secured to the chain link fence to reduce the risk of the female falling . Police on scene stopped traffic to create a safe working space for the fire crews and motorists. Firefighters maintained verbal contact with the female while a firefighter was secured in the basket of the ladder truck and got positioned close to the female. When the female attempted to move away from the ladder truck, the firefighter secured to the fence pinned himself and the female to the chain link so the ladder truck could position under them and bring the female into the bucket.
The female was brought down safely to the ground without incident at 1:11 p.m. The scene and the female were turned over to the Saskatoon Police Service. Our partners at City of Saskatoon were notified that firefighters had cut the chain link fence to allow access. Repairs to the fence will be followed up.
No injuries to the female, motorists, firefighters or police occurred as a result of this rescue.
Male rescued from Loraas truck - 200 Block of 1st Avenue South
September 30, 2022 - 8:30 am
At 5:45 a.m., on September 30, 2022, the Saskatoon Fire Department received an automatic alert from the ambulance service of a male trapped in the bin of a garbage truck. One fire engine and the Battalion Chief responded to the 200 block of 1st Avenue South. On arrival, fire crews identified an unknown age male, inside the bin of an automated garbage truck. The male was not injured but needed assistance out of the bin. At 6:06 a.m., the SFD fire crews assisted the person out of the bin. No automatic tools were required. It is unknown if the person was unhoused or searching the bin for recyclables.
The driver had been alerted to the person in the bin by hearing him yell out. Driver stopped and identified a person in the bin on the truck's camera.
The male was turned over to the ambulance service for an assessment. Fire crew returned to their station.
Saskatoon Fire Department welcomes five new recruits
September 29, 2022 - 2:30 pm
Fire Chief Morgan Hackl and other fire officials will welcome five new firefighter-paramedics to the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) at a private graduation ceremony this afternoon. The ceremony will take place at Fire Station No. 1 where the recruits will be presented with their badges and battalion assignments.
The five firefighter-paramedics are the second graduating group this year, following 15 recruits that were hired in April. Each graduate is certified to the level of Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) and is licensed through the Saskatchewan College of Paramedics. As firefighter-paramedics, they are trained, prepared, and experienced in operating effectively on high-hazard emergency scenes. The graduates’ impressive qualifications are reflective of SFD’s commitment to hiring applicants with a broad spectrum of knowledge and experience.
“Our fire department responds to nearly 20,000 calls annually,” says Chief Hackl. “With high call volumes come high expectations. These recruits have rose to the challenge and proven they are ready to provide the best front-line emergency care possible.”
The graduates have worked with SFD’s Fire Service Instructors over the past four weeks to review their firefighter and paramedic skills and prepare them for their new role at the SFD.
“We’re excited to welcome these graduates to our fire service watch them thrive as official members of the Saskatoon Fire Department,” Chief Hackl adds.
The new firefighter-paramedics will start their first shifts beginning Monday, October 3.
Structure Fire - Highway 14 and Dalmeny Grid
September 29, 2022 - 8:12 am
At 6:50 a.m. on September 29, 2022, the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) received a report of a structure fire at Highway 14 and Dalmeny Grid. Two fire engines, one brush truck, one tanker unit, one rescue unit and the Battalion Chief were dispatched. First arriving fire crews reported flames coming from metal doors of a structure. Incoming crews were assigned their tactical duties. At 7:22 a.m., the main portion of the fire was knocked down. Fire crews remain on scene at this time.
This fire is within Saskatoon's city limits. An SFD Fire Investigator has been requested to attend.
Details will follow once they are available.