Saskatoon Fire - News Releases

Two minutes after midnight on May 25, 2022, the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) received a report of fire in a suite in the 600 Block of Appleby Drive.  The building occupants were evacuating at that time.  Dispatched to the scene were three fire engines, one rescue unit, one ladder truck and the Battalion Chief.  First arriving fire crews assessed the situation and began assigning tactical duties.  Fire was located in a suite on the first floor.  This fire was brought under control at 12:26 a.m.  The Fire Investigator attended the scene and determined the fire has caused $50,000 damage.  Cause of the fire is suspicious and turned over to the Saskatoon Police Service for their follow up.

At 10:07 p.m., the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) received a report of a structure fire in the 200 Block of Clarence Avenue South on May 24, 2022.  Three fire engines, one ladder unit, one rescue and the Battalion Chief responded to the call.  First arriving fire crews reported flames coming from the roof.  Tactical duties were assigned to incoming fire crews.  Fire crews began extinguishing the fire from the exterior and the interior.  The roof was laddered to check the attic for fire conditions.  Utilities had been shut down for scene safety.  Heat was also identified in the exterior walls behind the stucco.  Fire crews cut the stucco and cooled the area.  

Fire Investigator has determined the fire was caused by careless disposal of smoking material.  Damage is estimated at $50,000.  Fire originated outside the front step to the house.

At 7:30 p.m., the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) received multiple 9-1-1 calls reporting flames behind a building in the 1900 Block of Ontario Avenue.  Fire crews were dispatched to an unknown fire as no caller had exact information but flames were reported as being 30 feet high.  Three fire engines, one rescue unit, one ladder truck and the Battalion Chief responded.  On arrival, it was identified that the fire was in a commercial business's yard.  Fire crews had to cut fencing in order to access the fire.  A seacan with motorcycles, pallets and landscape fabric were burning.  The fire was knocked down by firefighters at 8:09 p.m.  A Fire Investigator was dispatched to the fire scene.  The fire was completely under control at 8:25 p.m.  A skid steer operated by employees of the business was utilized to assist in moving and spreading items around the yard so fire crews could ensure the fire was fully extinguished.  

An SFD maintenance vehicle came to the scene to return contaminated hose lines and equipment to prepare for cleaning and putting back into commission at 8:46 p.m.  Fire crews have returned to their respective stations cleaning their protective gear, tools, hose line and equipment to be ready for the next call.  

The Fire Investigator has concluded the scene examination.   Damage is approximated to be $300,000.  Fire originated with some pallets stored in the yard that spread to other items.  Cause of the fire is undetermined.

At 1:28 a.m. on May 24, 2022, the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) received multiple 9-1-1 calls reporting a fire coming from a four-unit building on the 200 block of Camponi Place. Three engines, one ladder, one rescue truck and one battalion chief were dispatched.

Upon arriving, fire crews observed a large fire in two units. The fire crew began attacking the fire and requested a second alarm, which dispatched two additional engines and another ladder truck.

Multiple fire crews searched the interior of the unaffected units to ensure all occupants were evacuated and the fire did not spread. The fire was successfully contained to the initial two units of the building.

The fire was monitored for hot spots and was declared extinguished at 8:48 a.m. No injuries were reported.

The Fire Investigator performed a cause and origin scene examination. Damage is estimated at $700,000. The fire remains under investigation and an update will be provided when more information is available.

At 2:59 p.m. on May 13, 2022, the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) received multiple 9-1-1 calls reporting smoke coming from a house in the 200 block of Avenue H South.  Three fire engines, one ladder truck, one rescue unit and the Battalion Chief were dispatched.  At 3:03 p.m., fire crews arrived and reported smoke showing.  At 3:04 p.m., firefighters began extinguishing the fire.   A fire hydrant was connected to our engine to provide continuous water supply.  Tactical duties were assigned to the fire crews.  Natural gas and electrical were shut off for safety reasons at the fire scene.  

Entry into the basement of the house was made by fire crews at 3:10 p.m.  Firefighters encountered heavy smoke and high heat.  There was zero visibility.  The basement became fully involved.  At 3:18 p.m., fire crews backed out of the basement and a suppression tool using an aerosol system was deployed to assist with extinguishment.  Using a basement window at 3:21 p.m., the suppression tool was activated and placed in the basement.  It requires three to four minutes to work without water or ventilation being applied.  This suppression tool interrupts the chemical chain reaction of fire by suppressing the flames and bringing down the heat.  This tool does not completely extinguish the fire but changes the fire's environment.  At 3:25 p.m., extinguishment continued by firefighters from the exterior.  The fire was brought under control at 4:28 p.m.

Four occupants were inside at the time of the fire and had evacuated prior to SFD's arrival.  One of the occupants was treated by the ambulance service for smoke inhalation.  As a precaution, homes on either side were evacuated.  

At 5:18 p.m., the fire scene was turned over to the Fire Investigator.  There were no smoke alarms in place.  SFD will follow up and require records.  The Fire Investigator will work with the Saskatoon Police Service during this investigation.  Damage is estimated at $50,000.  An update will follow once the fire investigation has been concluded.

At 3:07 a.m. on May 13, 2022, the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) received a 9-1-1 call of a garage on fire in the 600 block of Avenue K South. Dispatched to the scene were three engines, one ladder truck, a rescue unit and the Battalion Chief.  

On arrival, crews observed a garage fully engulfed in flames. The firefighters began extinguishing the fire and checked for persons inside the structure. The fire was brought under control by 3:20 a.m. and crews confirmed there was no one inside. 

The crew continued to assess the structure for hotspots and declared the fire fully extinguished at 4:15 a.m.  

SFD’s Fire Investigator attended the scene to conduct a fire scene examination and determine the cause and origin of the fire. The Fire Investigator determined the fire started inside the garage and deemed the cause of the fire to be suspicious. Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) was called to the scene for further investigation. Fire damage is estimated at $30,000.

At 6:33 a.m. on May 10, 2022, the Saskatoon Fire Department received a 9-1-1 call of a garage on fire in the 1300 block of Avenue B North.  Dispatched to the scene were three fire engines, one ladder truck, a rescue unit and the Battalion Chief.  On arrival, the first arriving fire crews reported garbage and the detached garage on fire.  Tactical duties were assigned to the incoming fire crews.  Utility services were shut off for scene safety.  This fire was quickly brought under control at 6:52 a.m.  Our Fire Investigator attended the scene to conduct a cause and origin examination.  Fire crews turned the scene over at 7:36 a.m. to the Fire Investigator and returned to their stations to begin decontaminating equipment and putting the fire apparatus back into full commission to be ready for the next call.

No injuries occurred to civilians or fire personnel as a result of this fire.

The Fire Investigation has concluded.  This fire originated with a couch being set on fire that spread to the garbage bin and garage.  Fire is suspicious and damage is estimated at $50,000.  Follow up will be conducted by the Saskatoon Police Service due to the suspicious nature of the fire.

Friendly reminder from the Saskatoon Fire Department, don't accumulate combustible material around structures.  This is a fire waiting to happen and crimes of opportunity such as arson may occur!  We are proud to serve and protect Saskatoon, thank you and stay safe.

On May 6, 2022 at 5:44 a.m., the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) received a report of a structure fire in the 400 block of Avenue R South.  Dispatched to the scene were three fire engines, one ladder truck, one rescue unit and the Battalion Chief.  On arrival, the first arriving fire crew reported heavy smoke showing from the structure.  All incoming fire crews were assigned tactical duties.  An exterior attack on the fire was initiated immediately.  A hydrant was connected and a safety officer was appointed at the fire scene.  Utilities were shut down and utility companies were requested to attend to enhance scene safety.  An interior attack of the fire was initiated and the Fire Investigator was notified to attend.  This fire was brought under control at 7:15 a.m.  

At 7:30 a.m., the SFD Incident Commander began transferring the scene over to our Fire Investigator.  A cause and origin scene examination was conducted.  The Fire Investigator has determined this fire is suspicious, caused approximately $120,000 to the structure, and two points of origin were identified.  Saskatoon Police Service investigator was not able to attend.  The information will be forwarded as soon as practical for the Police Service's follow up.  If you have any information relating to this fire, please call the Saskatoon Police Service at (306) 975-8300.  

Saskatoon residents are expected to receive a notifynow test alert on Tuesday, May 3, 2022.

The City of Saskatoon’s public safety alert program, notifynow, is used to notify the public in real-time of a public safety situation. The municipal emergency alert system will be tested at 1:00 p.m. as part of Emergency Preparedness Week.

“Generally, notifynow alerts are only issued when there is an impending, escalating or occurring emergency situation in the city and immediate action needs to be taken,” explains Pamela Goulden-McLeod, Director of Emergency Management. “Testing the system allows us to ensure the system works as expected.”

In the event of an impending or escalating public safety concern, notifynow will be used to send out a message to subscribers. When signing up, subscribers have the option of receiving messages by:

• SMS text message
• Voice call to a landline
• Voice call to a cell phone
• Email

Subscribers can choose one communication method or all of them.

“We really encourage residents to create an account and provide their contact information for text, email and phone for up to five locations in Saskatoon,” says Goulden-McLeod. “It’s also important for residents to check their profile on notifynow and make sure their information is up to date.”

The national emergency alerting system, Alert Ready, will also be tested Canada-wide on Wednesday, May 4, at 1:55 p.m. The Alert Ready test message will be sent via TV, radio, and compatible wireless devices.

For additional information about Saskatoon’s alert system, visit saskatoon.ca/notifynow.

Emergency Preparedness Week (May 1-7, 2022) is an annual event held across Canada that encourages Canadians to take concrete actions to be better prepared to protect themselves and their families during emergencies. This year’s theme, Be Prepared for Anything emphasizes the importance of planning for the unexpected.

Natural disasters may be beyond our control, but there are ways to reduce the risk and the impact of whatever emergency we might face. Residents and business owners are encouraged to join the Saskatoon Fire Department’s Emergency Management Organization (EMO) in becoming prepared.

"For the last two years our focus has been responding to a global pandemic but our work to prepare and respond to other risks in our community has never stopped," explains Pamela Goulden-McLeod, Director of Emergency Management. "Emergency events can occur at any time. Preparing for an emergency in your home, when you are travelling and in your community is part of taking care of yourself, your family and your community. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s the importance of emergency preparedness and responding as a whole community. By taking a few simple steps and being proactive, you can become better prepared to face a range of emergencies."

In order to be prepared, the Saskatoon Fire Department encourages residents to:

• Know the risks – Every community can have different risks. What are the risks for your home, your business, and when you are travelling? Knowing the risks and how to respond are part of being prepared.
• Make a plan – Develop an emergency plan tailored to your family, or your business/workplace. How will you get in touch with each other? Where is the list of emergency phone numbers? Where do you need to go if you need to evacuate your home or business/workplace?
• Get an emergency kit – During an emergency, we will all need some basic supplies. We may need to get by without power or tap water. Be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours in an emergency.
• Follow trustworthy sources on social media – Examples include Saskatoon Fire Department, Saskatoon Police Service and Saskatoon Emergency Management.
• Sign up for notifynow messages – When a public safety concern arises, notifynow sends public safety messages to residents of Saskatoon via telephone, email or text message with important information on what to do, where to go and what to expect.

For additional information about emergency preparedness, visit: saskatoon.ca/emo.