Saskatoon Fire - News Releases

The structure fire on July 11, 2022 was brought under control at 8:46 p.m.  No injuries were sustained as a result of this fire to civilians or firefighters. 

Fire Investigation has concluded.  Cause of the fire is accidental from improper disposal of smoking material. 

Fire originated inside a pillar that supports the roof over the front door.  The pillar was finished with brick veneer over wood frame construction.  A flower bed surrounded the pillar that contained a paper cup for cigarette butts as well as peat moss in the flower bed.  Cigarette butts were identified inside the pillar with the interior wood frame sustaining fire damage.  

Damage is estimated at $750,000.  

The Saskatoon Fire Department wants to remind our community members that potting soil, combustible material such as paper cups, plastic containers and planter pots are not appropriate cigarette receptacles.  These products are prone to heat and igniting on fire.  Please use a non-combustible container such as glass or metal with a lid and water inside to fully submerge and extinguish smoking material.  Stay safe.  

At 7:45 p.m. on July 11, 2022, the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) Communications Centre received a call reporting a structure fire in the 600 block of Hargreaves Avenue.  Dispatched to the fire scene were three fire engines, one ladder truck, one rescue unit and the Battalion Chief.  On arrival at 7:52 p.m., first arriving fire crews reported a fully involved structure fire.  Fire extends from the basement to the roof.  Responding fire crews were assigned tactical duties.  Utilities were shut down for scene safety.  The street was shut down for the public's safety.  At 8:09 p.m., fire crews were going defensive while they assessed the structure and its fire conditions while continuing extinguishment.  At 8:21 p.m., the fire is reported as knocked down in the basement and the fire in the roof being suppressed by the ladder truck.  At 8:38 p.m., fire crews were back in offensive mode and entering the structure once again to complete extinguishment in the interior areas.  

Fire crews are assessing neighboring properties for fire extension and carbon monoxide at this time.  This fire is still active.

A Fire Investigator has been dispatched to the scene.  Updates will provided as they become available.

The SFD is requesting that all residents avoid this area for their own safety and those of our firefighters.  

At 7:15 p.m., the Saskatoon Fire Department Communications Centre received a report of a fire in a shop in the 900 Block of Valley Road on July 9, 2022.  Dispatched to the fire were two fire engines, one rescue unit, a tanker truck, a brush truck and the Battalion Chief.  On arrival at 7:33 p.m., it was identified that a recreational vehicle and some pallets had been on fire.  Employees had used water to extinguish the items on fire near the building.  This fire had extended to the exterior of the shop.  Utilities were shut down for scene safety.  Fire crews began pulling exterior siding off to extinguish hot spots.  The attic was checked for fire extension into the roof.  Only smoke was identified in the attic.  At 8:03 p.m., fire crews declared the fire fully extinguished.

Fire crews turned the scene over to the R.C.M.P. and returned to their stations.  If a fire investigation is to be conducted, it will be performed by the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency.

At 9:55 p.m. on July 9, 2022, the Saskatoon Fire Department Communications Centre received multiple calls of a structure fire in the 10 Block of Westview Place.  Dispatched to the fire were three fire engines, one ladder truck, one rescue unit and the Battalion Chief.  First arriving fire crew reported heavy flame showing from the second floor of a 3 storey unit in a townhouse complex.  Tactical duties were assigned to all incoming fire crews.  At 10:03 p.m., fire crews reported have an initial knock down of the fire and began to complete extinguishment.  Utility services were shut down for scene safety.  The units in this townhouse complex are attached to one another so consideration on the fire ground was to prevent fire spread to other units.  During their interior extinguishment, many used needles were identified so caution by firefighters was utilized while they worked.  A Fire Investigator was dispatched to the scene.

This fire was brought under control at 10:25 p.m.  Fire crews worked to ensure there were no fire extensions or hot spots in the unit.  At 11:07 p.m., the incident commander declared the fire was fully extinguished.  Transfer of the fire scene to the Fire Investigator began.  Fire crews began packing up their equipment, tools and hose lines.  The last fire crew returned to their station at 12:31 a.m. where decontamination of all equipment began.  The fire trucks were replenished and firefighters were ready for the next call.  

The Fire Investigation has concluded.  It was reported that the unit was vacant but not secured.  Someone was seen in the unit at approximately 6:30 p.m. prior to the fire.  It is not known when this person(s) exited the structure.  Police did not have an investigator available to attend the scene but will continue the investigation.  Origin of the fire was in a bedroom.  Fire damage is estimated at $75,000.  Cause of the fire is suspicious.  

The SFD Fire Investigator had the unit secured/boarded prior to leaving the scene.  

If anyone has information related to this fire, please contact our Saskatoon Police Service at (306) 975-8300.

The Saskatoon Fire Department responded to multiple small fires that were deemed suspicious between 12:20 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. on July 9, 2022.

First call was in the 3100 Block of 33rd Street West for a dumpster fire at 12:20 a.m..  One fire engine responded and extinguished the fire.  No further damage was sustained.  Incident 22-10575  Damage estimated at $500.

Second call was for the 500 Block of Avenue H South for a dumpster fire at 1:07 a.m.  One fire engine responded and extinguished the fire.  No further damage was sustained.  Incident 22-10576  Damaged estimated at $500.

Third call was for the 600 Block of Avenue K South for a fence on fire at 1:49 a.m.  One fire engine responded and extinguished the fire.  No further damage was sustained.  Incident 22-10577  Damage estimated at $200.

Fourth call was for the 800 Block of Avenue H South for a shed on fire at 2:26 a.m.  Two fire engines responded and the Battalion Chief who had been searching the area for suspicious activity/person(s) responded as well.  On arrival a shed was fully involved and had caught two vehicles in its vicinity on fire.  This fire was brought under control at 2:42 a.m.  Incident 22-10578  Damage estimated at $25,000.

The Fire Investigator attended and it is believed that all fires were started using an open flame device such as a torch.  All fires are being considered suspicious as no other plausible cause of the fires were identified.  Police were unable to send one of their investigators but will continue the investigation and any further follow up. 

On July 7, 2022, the Saskatoon Fire Department had responded to a garage fire in the 900 Block of Avenue H South, suspicious fire causing $5000 damage.  This fire was attended by the Police Investigator and the Fire Investigator.  Cause of the fire was deemed suspicious.

If any one has information relating to any of these fires, please contact our partners at the Saskatoon Police Service at (306)975-8300.  

At 10:57 a.m. on July 8, 2022, the Saskatoon Fire Department received a call for smell of smoke inside a commercial establishment and smoke coming from the roof.  Dispatched to the fire were three fire engines, one rescue unit, one ladder truck and the Battalion Chief.  On arrival, smoke was showing from the roof but no evacuation of occupants had been initiated.  Fire crews were tasked with laddering the roof to begin extinguishment and other fire crews began evacuating the occupants to the North side of the street to keep everyone out of the smoke drift.  Approximately 130 occupants were evacuated by fire crews.  No occupants sustained injury.  An additional two fire engines were dispatched to the scene to support suppression and evacuation operations.  

The fire was contained to the roof area with smoke coming through the bathroom and furnace room ventilation system.  Fire crews had the fire under control at 11:31 p.m.  After firefighters confirmed there were no extensions or hot spots from the fire, they turned the scene over to the Fire Investigator.

Cause of the fire is from tarring being performed earlier in the day.  Origin of the fire was the roof top.  Damage is estimated at $25,000.  

Further follow up will be conducted by the Fire Prevention team of the SFD as the fire alarm was not activated by any person/staff.  It was determined that the fire alarm was not operational at the time of the fire.  Fire alarms are an alert and early warning system telling occupants that they must evacuate.  The establishment was closed down for the remainder of the night and directed to rectify immediate deficiencies prior to going back into operation.

At 5:39 a.m. on July 4, 2022, the Saskatoon Fire Department received report of a porch fully involved in the 300 block of Avenue J South.  Dispatched to the fire were three fire engines, one ladder truck, one rescue unit, and the Battalion Chief.  The first arriving fire crew reported heavy flames visible from the street.  

Neighbors to the structure fire on Avenue J South had evacuated their homes as a safety precaution.  Fire crews were assigned their tactical duties.  A priority for the firefighters was to protect the neighboring properties.  Extinguishment of the fire began from the exterior.  Utility companies were called to shut down service for scene safety.  This fire was brought under control at 5:51 a.m.  At 6:41 a.m., the firefighters declared the structure fire completely extinguished, no further signs of fire extension and hot spots. 

At 5:49 a.m., fire crews identified a fire in the yard of a property adjacent to the structure fire across the alley in the 300 Block of Avenue K South while extinguishing the Avenue J structure fire.  A fire crew was assigned and redeployed from the structure fire to extinguish items in the yard.  This separate fire was brought under control at 6:04 a.m.

No injuries to civilians or firefighters occurred as a result of this fire.  Both fire scenes were turned over to the Fire Investigator.  The fire investigations have concluded.

300 Block of Avenue J South (Structure fire)                                    300 Block of Avenue K South

Cause:  Suspicious                                                                               Cause:  Suspicious

Origin:  Porch                                                                                       Origin:  Couch in yard

Fire Damage:  $175, 000                                                                     Fire Damage:  $1500

Anyone with any information on these two fires, please call the Saskatoon Police Service at 306-975-8300.

At 8:43 p.m., the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) received a request by the Saskatoon Police Service to search for a possible person in the river.  Dispatched to the river were one engine company, an SFD boat and the Battalion Chief.  The SFD boat was in the river and heading to the last point scene at 8:52 p.m.  The shoreline and river were searched.  Using the SFD's handheld Sonar, equipment that uses sound waves underwater to identify objects, two objects of interest were identified at 9:22 p.m.  Divers from SFD entered the river and began searching the area.  At 9:51 p.m., a person was located and CPR was initiated.  

An SFD paramedic responded to the hospital with the ambulance service.  The scene and follow up were left with the Saskatoon Police Service.  

At 8:43 p.m., the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) received a request by the Saskatoon Police Service to search for a possible person in the river.  Dispatched to the river were one engine company, an SFD boat and the Battalion Chief.  The SFD boat was in the river and heading to the last point scene at 8:52 p.m.  The shoreline and river were searched.  Using the SFD's handheld Sonar, equipment that uses sound waves underwater to identify objects, two objects of interest were identified at 8:22 p.m.  Divers from SFD entered the river and began searching the area.  At 8:51 p.m., a person was located and CPR was initiated.  

An SFD paramedic responded to the hospital with the ambulance service.  The scene and follow up were left with the Saskatoon Police Service.  

At approximately 6:45 p.m. on June 9, the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) was notified approximately 6,000 litres to 8,000 litres of Sodium Hydroxide had spilled while being unloaded from a transport truck at an industrial site in the 100 block of McLeod Avenue.

One engine, a Battalion Chief, SFD’s Hazmat team and Command 9 were dispatched to investigate the scene. Upon arrival, crews found a storm drain closest to the spill had already been dammed by those on-site

The driver of the semi was treated for minor injuries at the scene but declined to be transported to hospital.

A Hazmat investigation determined there were no environmental impacts.