Saskatoon Fire - News Releases

Search operations will resume today for the individual who entered the weir on Saturday, June 20.

The Saskatoon Fire Department will dispatch two watercraft to search the shoreline and river south of the weir using sonar.

The incident continues to be investigated by the Saskatoon Police Service. Further updates will be provided as new information becomes available.

More water is on its way from Gardiner Dam: the speed and height of the river is rising which increases safety risks. The Water Security Agency advises river flows are expected to increase from the elevated current rate of approximately 240 cubic metres per second (m³/s) to approximately 700 m³/s starting on Sunday. 

It’s expected the river will rise by about 60 cm or approximately two feet. However, that is not high enough to cause flooding of riverbank areas such as the Meewasin Valley Trail. High flows are anticipated for the next week. 

“This represents a significant increase and with that, there’s an increase in the potential dangers on or around the river,” says Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) Deputy Chief Sean Thody. 

Deputy Chief Thody urges anyone who may be around the river and along the riverbank to keep their distance, adding swimming in the river is prohibited in Saskatoon. 

“Although the river may provide a tempting option to cool down on hot days, the South Saskatchewan is unpredictable. Aside from the changing, dangerously fast currents and unstable bottom, it will have many additional hazards right now such as fallen branches, hidden material like broken concrete and floating debris that will pose a threat to anyone in or near the water.” 

Thody further warns SFD is not allowed to put rescue divers in the water above 450 m³/s because it poses a safety risk to the divers. 

The Fire Department is working with the Meewasin Valley Authority and will monitor the water flows and will advise everyone including recreational user groups of the greater flow rate. Saskatchewan Search and Rescue suggests the following guidelines for paddling activity: 

• <250 m³/s – Novice paddler; flatwater conditions 
• 250–400 m³/s– Intermediate paddler; those with moving water experience 
• 400–600 m³/s – Expert paddler; paddlers with moving water experience 
• 600–800 m³/s – Only expert paddlers with whitewater experience 
• >800 m³/s – Dangerous – Stay off the water 

Saskatoon Water 
Saskatoon Water is prepared for the greater flows. While expecting more sediment and cloudiness in the river, processes are in place to handle extra clarification that may be needed. Water service is not expected to be impacted by the rising river levels. 

Bridges 
The rising and faster flowing water is not expected to pose any threat to bridges nor cause any significant challenges for construction projects. The City’s Asset Preservation team continues to talk with contractors working on both the Broadway Bridge and the University Bridge to ensure their staff remain safe. 

Swimming is prohibited in the South Saskatchewan River
As mentioned, Bylaw No. 4433 prohibits swimming in the South Saskatchewan River within city limits. 

View weir from a safe distance 
The South Saskatchewan River is equipped with a weir to alter the flow and discharge of water along the river. This barrier produces a powerful backwash of water that can trap objects and people. The weir must never be approached and should only be viewed from designated areas along Spadina Crescent East. 

Pet safety 
Just as a fast river poses risks to humans, it is also risky to pets. Pet owners are reminded to keep a close watch on their pets – especially in off-leash areas where they could get into the river. The best advice is to avoid these areas for the coming days. 

Water rescue tips 
If you witness someone in distress in the river: 

• Call 911 immediately to report the incident, noting details about the individual, time and situation. 
• Keep track of recognizable landmarks around the area where the individual was first seen in distress in the water. 
• Coach the individual from the shore edge on the below noted tips for water self-rescue. 

If you are in distress in the river: 

• Stay calm. 
• Keep your head above the water. 
• Remove any heavy or bulky clothing items. 
• Don’t fight the current; move with the current as you work your way to the shore edge.

Always be cautious near the river. In an emergency, call 911 immediately. 

Saskatoon residents with a notifynow account are expected to receive a test alert on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.

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

“notifynow alerts are reserved for situations where there is an impending, escalating or occurring emergency situation in the city and residents need to take immediate action,” explains Pamela Goulden-McLeod, Director of Saskatoon Emergency Management Organization (EMO). “Conducting an annual test is an important step to confirm the system is functioning properly and ready to be used when it’s needed.”

In the event of an impending or escalating public safety concern, notifynow will 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 strongly encourage residents to sign up for notifynow so they can receive messages via text, email or phone,” says Goulden-McLeod. “It’s also important for residents who already have a notifynow account to check their profile 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 6, 2026, at 1:55 p.m. The Alert Ready test message will be sent via TV, radio and compatible wireless devices.

EMO extends its thanks to its valued notifynow sponsors, ERCO and Saputo, for their continued support of technology that helps protect residents’ health and safety.

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

Emergency Preparedness Week (May 3-9, 2026) 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. Know Your Risks. is a reminder that emergencies can happen at any time and being prepared is crucial.

Emergencies can happen unexpectedly. Knowing the risks specific to your area and being prepared can help individuals and communities respond more effectively to emergencies, reduce the risk of injury or harm, and potentially save lives.

"Emergencies can happen without warning, which is why preparedness is so important,” says Pamela Goulden-McLeod, Director of Saskatoon Emergency Management Organization. "Emergency Preparedness Week is a critical reminder for residents to take action by reviewing emergency plans, checking supplies and understanding local risks. Being prepared ahead of time is a vital step that helps protect lives and strengthens our community's ability to responds when the unexpected happens."

Residents and business owners are encouraged to participate in Emergency Preparedness Week by taking the time 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 – Examples include the City of Saskatoon, 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.

The Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) is proud to announce the launch of its new Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) software. This upgrade strengthens SFD’s ability to deliver efficient, reliable and timely dispatch service during emergencies and major events.

With a federal mandate requiring all 9-1-1 services in Canada to transition to the NG9‑1‑1 network by 2027, the SFD launched NextGen 9-1-1 in May 2025, upgrading its emergency call system from older telephone technology to a modern, internet‑based platform that makes emergency calls faster and more reliable. With this telephone upgrade in place, it became essential for the SFD’s CAD software to keep pace. The older CAD software would not fully support the advanced capabilities of NextGen 9‑1‑1 and was at risk of no longer being supported. The new CAD software is designed to work in tandem with NextGen 9‑1‑1 by transforming 9-1-1 call information into real‑time operational insight.

The CAD software provides dispatchers with superior situational awareness and improved resource management when firefighters need to be deployed. Information entered into the new CAD software is transformed into a real‑time operational picture, giving dispatchers a wholistic view of each incident and enabling them to manage incidents more efficiently and effectively.

Key benefits of the new CAD system include:

• Streamlined, user‑friendly interfaces and workflows that help dispatchers access critical information quickly and work with greater efficiency.
• More accurate and reliable data, for dispatchers to relay to firefighters, strengthening situational awareness while en route and on scene.
• Faster and smarter deployment of crews and equipment to get the right resources to the scene sooner.
• More sustainable and modern IT, reducing maintenance challenges and supporting long‑term stability and reliability.
• Improved reporting and transparency to help the SFD monitor performance, demonstrate results and support accountability.

“This new CAD system represents the newest and most advanced technology in the industry," says Deputy Chief Rob Hogan. “Saskatoon is the first in Saskatchewan, and one of only 40 departments in North America to use this technology. It gives our dispatchers faster, more accurate information when 9-1-1 calls come in to our team. This modern technology will meet both the technical and operational demands of the SFD for years to come.”

A Saskatoon Fire Investigator has determined a fire in a commercial building Friday night was caused by a faulty e‑bike battery. The fire originated in a battery testing room before spreading throughout the structure. Damage is estimated at $1.5 million.

The Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) responded on March 13 to a call for a structure fire in a business on the 700 block of Circle Drive East. Crews worked through the night, bringing the flames under control at 2:19 p.m. on Saturday, March 14.

Lack of safe access to hot spots prolonged SFD’s response; a track-hoe was brought in on Saturday to knock holes through the walls and allow water to be poured inside.