Saskatoon Fire - News Releases

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.

With extreme cold temperatures expected this weekend, the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) is reminding residents to take extra care, as cold snaps often lead to an increase in fires and carbon monoxide incidents.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odourless, colourless, tasteless and potentially deadly gas created when fuels such as gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane or oil burn incompletely. High levels of CO can cause illness, brain damage or death before people even know it is there.

“When it’s cold, we want to stay inside and keep warm," says Fire Marshal Ryan Bradley. “But that’s also when our heating systems work the hardest. Furnaces run more often, and frost or ice can quickly build-up around chimneys, fresh‑air intakes and exhaust vents. If these areas become blocked, dangerous gases like CO can back up into the home. Taking a few minutes to check that your vents and chimneys are clear can make a big difference and could prevent a serious tragedy.”

The SFD would like to remind residents to follow these winter safety tips:

1. Keep exit points clear
   1. Keep all doors and bedroom windows accessible and free of snow and other obstructions. They should be easy to open in case of an emergency.
   2. Regularly review your fire escape plan and test all exits to make sure they operate properly.
2. Clear snow and ice buildup
   1. Check your roof for snow buildup. Melting snow that freezes can form ice dams, blocking drainage and causing water to seep under shingles, leading to leaks and water damage.
   2. Keep intake and exhaust vents for furnaces and heating appliances free of ice and snow accumulations to reduce the risk of CO build-up.
   3. When shoveling snow, clear fire hydrants of ice and snow so firefighters can quickly find and use them in an emergency.
3. Inspect appliances and service heating equipment
   1. Regularly inspect the pipes and valves on fuel-burning appliances like water heaters, furnaces and gas stoves. Look for signs of wear, rust or leaks.
   2. Have your furnace, fireplace, water heater and other fuel-burning appliances cleaned and inspected by a professional to make sure they are working properly and don’t emit CO.
4. Use electricity wisely
   1. Avoid overloading extension cords and power strips, as this can cause overheating and fires.
   2. Use cords rated for the device’s power needs and never use damaged or frayed cords.
5. Test and maintain alarms
   1. Test smoke alarms monthly and replace batteries at least once a year.
   2. Place CO detectors on every level of your home, especially near sleeping areas, and test them every three months. Replace units every seven years or sooner if required.
6. Stay warm safely
   1. During extreme cold, limit time outdoors and stay inside when possible.
   2. Keep space heaters at least one metre away from anything that can burn, plug them directly into a wall outlet and turn them off before leaving a room or going to sleep.
   3. Never use ovens, stoves, barbecues or fuel‑burning heaters indoors to stay warm, as they can create dangerous levels of CO.

Symptoms of CO poisoning

• Headaches
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Burning eyes
• Confusion
• Drowsiness

CO warning signs in the home

• The air in your house is stuffy.
• There is excessive moisture on windows and walls.
• There is a buildup of soot around appliances and vents.
• There is a yellow flame in a natural gas appliance instead of a blue one.
• Your pilot light keeps going out.
• More than one person of your household is feeling ill.
• Occupants feel ill at home and better when they are away from the house for a while.

Cold weather warm-up locations

Individuals and families can warm up at various locations across Saskatoon. To view the list of locations, download the Warm-up Locations Poster.

By taking these proactive measures, you can help protect yourself, your family and your neighbours. If you see someone in distress, call 911, or call 306‑975‑3030 for non‑emergency assistance.

For more information about CO safety, visit saskatoon.ca/carbonmonoxide.

For more information about the Saskatoon Winter Emergency Response, visit saskatoon.ca/cold.

At 7:39 a.m. on December 30, 2025, the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) Communications Center received a report of a structure fire in the 100 block of Avenue T South.  Three fire engines, one rescue unit, one ladder truck and the Battalion Chief were dispatched.  The first arriving fire crew reported flames showing from the front of a single-family dwelling unit that was boarded up.  Officer reported the front door had its board removed upon their arrival.  

All incoming fire crews were assigned tactical duties.  Utilities were shut down for safety reasons at the fire scene.  Firefighters began removing the boards from the windows and extinguishment initiated.  

Fire was reported as under control at 8:47 a.m.  Full extinguishment continues at this time.

At this time, no injuries have been reported or sustained to civilians or firefighters.  No person(s) has been identified as being inside the structure upon the arrival of the SFD.

The Fire Investigator is on scene. Once the fire scene is fully extinguished and turned over, a cause and origin scene examination will begin. Further details on damage will be provided at a later time.