Saskatoon Fire - News Releases

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.