Saskatoon Fire - News Releases

At around 8:09 p.m. on August 22, 2020, the Saskatoon Fire Department received notification from an alarm monitoring company of an alarm activation in the 500 block of Queen Street. One fire engine was dispatched to investigate the cause of the activation. Upon arrival of that fire engine, visible smoke was observed to be exiting a window on the second level of the structure; two additional fire engines, one rescue unit, one aerial ladder truck, one fire investigation unit, and one battalion chief were added to the response. 

The on scene fire crew immediately began softening the fire from the exterior until additional resources arrived to support an offensive fire attack strategy. The fire, that had originated on the main level of the structure, was considered to be under control at about 8:53 p.m.. Fire dispatchers requested the attendance of utility providers as multiple utilities to the structure were required to be shut down. Firefighters did not locate any occupants, pets, or further extension of the fire during interior searches and there were no injuries to fire or civilian personnel reported. Ventilation was conducted to evacuate high heat conditions and any remaining smoke or carbon monoxide from the structure.

The Saskatoon Police Service was on scene establishing scene safety and facilitating traffic flow through the area for the duration of this incident.

A fire investigator has confirmed this fire to have originated on the main level and has identified it to be incendiary in nature. Damage has been estimated at approximately $60,000. Members of the public are asked to report non-emergent suspicious activity by calling 306-975-8300; in an emergency, call 911 immediately. 

At around 10:54 p.m. on August 21, 2020, the Saskatoon Fire Department received internal radio communication from the Saskatoon Police Service alerting to a possible structure fire at Dr. John G. Egnatoff School, located in the 200 block of Kenderdine Road. Three fire engines, one rescue unit, one aerial ladder truck, one fire investigation unit, and one battalion chief were dispatched for response. It was reported to Police that neighbours had witnessed what appeared to be a ball of fire on the roof of the school.

Upon arrival, fire crews established a laddered connection to the roof and began searching for the fire. There was no fire located; however, firefighters did find discarded items and traces of an accelerant that had previously been on fire. While on scene, fire crews were were made aware of a youth male in the area with burns to his back and neck; firefighter-paramedics attended to the male before he was transported to hospital by ground ambulance for further treatment of what are believed to be minor burns.

No damage to the structure was identified; however, the fire investigator has reasonable evidence to suggest that an incendiary fire occurred.

At approximately 7:39 a.m. on August 22, 2020, the Saskatoon Fire Department received a 911 call reporting a significant amount of smoke in the area; upon further investigation, the caller confirmed smoke to be exiting a residential structure in the 400 block of Avenue G South. Three fire engines, one rescue unit, one aerial ladder truck, one fire investigation unit, and one battalion chief were committed to this incident. 

Arriving on scene in just over two minutes, firefighters found a boarded-up residential structure with smoke visibly exiting from the front. Fire crews immediately made entry, quickly locating and extinguishing a fire on the main level; by about 7:59 a.m. the commanding fire officer deemed the fire to be under control. While searching the structure, firefighters located and removed a live cat from the basement; it was left in the care of a neighbour until the Saskatoon Animal Control Agency could retrieve it. There were no occupants found in the structure and no injuries occurred as a result of this incident. 

A fire investigator has identified this fire to be incendiary, noting extensive water, smoke, and heat damage throughout the structure; the damage has been estimated at around $150,000.

At approximately 8:30 p.m. on August 20, 2020, the Saskatoon Fire Department received a 911 call reporting a possible structure fire in the 1800 block of 20th Street West. Three fire engines, one rescue unit, one aerial ladder truck, one fire investigation unit, and one battalion chief were dispatched to the scene. 

Arriving on scene in about three minutes, firefighters observed smoke exiting from the back of the structure and breached the door for entry. A small fire was quickly located in a basement utility room; by around 9:20 p.m. the commanding fire officer had declared the fire to be under control. Fire crews were required to remove ductwork and cut through the main level's floor system to confirm that the fire had not extended beyond the area of origin. It is understood that this property is used for short-term rental accommodations and that it was not occupied at the time of the fire; no injuries occurred as a result.

This fire remains under investigation; a fire investigator has estimated the damage to be around $20,000. 

At around 9:37 a.m. on August 20, 2020, the Saskatoon Fire Department received a 911 call reporting the back deck and door of a residential structure to be on fire in the 2000 block of 37th Street West. Three fire engines, one rescue unit, one aerial ladder truck, one fire investigation unit, and one battalion chief were dispatched for response. 

Firefighters arrived on scene to find that the fire had been fully extinguished by a neighbour prior to their arrival. The commanding fire officer terminated the response of the additional fire crews. Firefighters searched the house, confirming there to be no further extension of the fire. There were no injuries to fire or civilian personnel as a result of this incident. 

A fire investigator has identified the fire to have started on the exterior of the house; however, the exact cause remains undetermined. Damage has been estimated at around $10,000.

At approximately 12:49 p.m. on August 20, 2020, the Saskatoon Fire Department received a 911 call reporting a motor vehicle collision in the area of Faithfull Avenue and 42nd Street East. The caller reported a single vehicle to have struck a power pole, knocking down many live power lines. Two fire engines, one rescue unit, and one battalion chief were dispatched for response. 

Arriving on scene in about 20 seconds, firefighters located the vehicle involved and confirmed the power pole to have collapsed across it. A significant amount of transformer fluid was found to be leaking onto the ground. Fire dispatchers alerted multiple utility providers and an environmental clean-up company to attend the scene. The driver and lone occupant of the vehicle was medically assessed by firefighter-paramedics before being transported to hospital by ground ambulance for further evaluation of what are believed to be minor injuries. It is understood that the driver may have experienced a medical emergency prior to the collision.

A significant power outage has occurred as a result of this incident; utility technicians are currently working to restore the power in the affected area. Updates on the status of this outage are available at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts.

At around 4:40 p.m. on August 16, 2020, the Saskatoon Fire Department received a 911 call reporting the back of a residential structure to be on fire in the 300 block of Avenue R South. Four fire engines, one rescue unit, one aerial ladder truck, one fire investigation unit, and one battalion chief were committed to this incident. 

Arriving on scene in just over three minutes, firefighters found a fully involved residential structure with flames extending towards exposures at two adjacent properties; it was soon confirmed that one of these adjacent properties was also involved in fire. The commanding fire officer made an informed decision to deploy an aerosol fire suppression tool, otherwise referred to as a fire suppression grenade, into one of the involved structures to rapidly control the heat and spread of fire. Fire dispatchers contacted the appropriate utility technicians for attendance to address a compromised power pole and shut down utilities to the affected structures. Fire crews performed searches of the structures and confirmed there to be no occupants or pets inside. Both involved structures were boarded-up at the time of the fire. Firefighters ensured there was no further extension occurring before the fire was declared under control at approximately 6:07 p.m. 

There were no injuries to fire or civilian personnel as a result of this incident. A cause and damage estimate are not available at this time. 

The Saskatoon Fire Department has had aerosol fire suppression tools in select fire apparatus for about one year; in recent months, coverage of this equipment has been expanded into additional fire apparatus to continue protecting life and property in the City of Saskatoon and surrounding area.

At approximately 9:10 a.m. on August 16, 2020, the Saskatoon Fire Department received a 911 call reporting the passenger cabin of a semi unit on fire in the area of 71st Street East and Burron Avenue. The caller was unsure of the occupancy of the semi. Two fire engines, one rescue unit, and one battalion chief responded. 

Arriving on scene in about four minutes, fire crews located a fully involved semi unit and immediately began flowing a mixture of water and foam through a hose line to extinguish the flames. Firefighters forced entry into the passenger cabin and confirmed there to be no occupants inside. The commanding fire officer declared the loss to be stopped at around 9:33 a.m. 

The Saskatoon Police Service attended the scene to gather information and make contact with the operator as the semi unit was no longer able to be driven; the scene was left in their care prior to fire crews clearing the scene and returning to their stations. 

At approximately 5:39 p.m. on August 11, 2020, the Saskatoon Fire Department received a 911 call reporting persons in the South Saskatchewan River, holding onto logs in an area downstream of the University Bridge. One fire engine, one water rescue unit, one battalion chief were committed to this incident. 

Water Rescue One with three surface water technicians aboard was deployed onto the South Saskatchewan River from an emergency boat launch and proceeded to rescue an individual located 225 meters upstream from the buoys, then continued further downstream to retrieve the second person.  Neither individual were wearing life jackets.

The rescued adults, one male and one female, were brought to shore, assessed by firefighter/paramedics and after determining they sustained no injuries, were turned over to the Saskatoon Police Service.

The Saskatoon Fire Department encourages all river users to wear life jackets.

At 2:29 am the Saskatoon fire department began receiving 911 calls reporting a fire in the 500 block of Ave G South.  Three fire engines, one rescue unit, one aerial ladder truck, one fire investigation unit, and one battalion chief were dispatched for response.  The first fire crews were on scene 2 minutes and 45 seconds after leaving the fire station and observed flames between two houses.

Fire crews advanced a hose line to begin putting water on the fire and quickly suppressed further fire growth.

Fire damage was sustained to the exterior of the two occupied homes.  There were no injuries as a result of this fire and a fire investigator estimates damages at $3000, while the cause if the fire remains under investigation.