Saskatoon Fire - News Releases
Saskatoon News Releases
Residential fire – 400 block of Avenue I North
March 10, 2022 - 11:15 am
At 4:34 a.m. on March 10, 2022, the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) received a call reporting a fire in a home on the 400 block of Avenue I North. All four occupants safely evacuated from the home and were sheltering in a vehicle. Three engines, one ladder, one rescue truck and one battalion chief were dispatched.
Upon arriving, fire crews observed smoke and flame coming from the 1.5 storey home. Crews advanced a hose line to apply water to the fire while another crew shut off the natural gas. Utility companies were notified and utilities were shut down to ensure safety at the scene.
At 5:04 a.m. heavy flame continued from the windows of the second floor. Occupants in adjacent homes were notified and evacuated. Firefighters continued to extinguish the fire, resulting in heavy smoke.
Firefighters extinguished all visible flames by 5:45 a.m. and the home was prepared for ventilation. Once the smoke cleared, fire crews checked the home for hotspots.
At 6:07 a.m. a hidden fire was discovered in the back of the home. The crew on duty switched out firefighters on scene to avoid cold exposure and provide relief. Firefighters proceeded to attack the fire at the back of the home. The fire was brought under control at 6:32 a.m.
After extensively searching the home, fire crews were unable to find the occupants’ four-month-old Shepherd puppy. The dog’s whereabouts remain unknown.
The search concluded and crews declared the loss stopped at 7:52 a.m.
The Fire Investigator performed a cause and origin scene examination. The fire originated in a basement bedroom. The cause of the fire was determined as careless disposal of smoking material. Damage is estimated at $100,000.
Small fire - 100 Block of Avenue M South
February 20, 2022 - 7:37 am
On February 19, 2022, at 5:11 pm, the Saskatoon Fire Department responded to a report from someone seeing smoke inside a house. The caller did not know if any person(s) were home. Three fire engines, a ladder truck, a rescue unit and the Battalion Chief responded. First arriving fire crew reported light smoke showing from the front window. Fire crews entered the residence and identified a fire in the bedroom and the laundry room with water present. No fire just smoke residue from what appeared to be an extinguished fire. The Fire Investigator was called to the scene.
Fire Investigator determined the fire was caused by smoking material catching combustibles on fire when an occupant fell asleep. Occupant used water to extinguish the fire. $2000 damage.
The smoke alarm was missing. Our occupant was lucky to have woken before receiving burns or the fire spread further with devastating outcomes. The fire investigator confirmed that smoke alarm records were being maintained by the owner. It appears an occupant of the home removed the smoke alarm. Smoke alarms are a life saving device that alert occupants in the early onset of a fire to evacuate safely. Never remove smoke alarms.
The fire was small and smoke was removed which allowed the occupant to remain in the residence. The Fire Investigator installed a smoke alarm prior to leaving the scene to ensure this small life safety device was in place and ready to do its "big" job.
Garage fire - 10 Block of Morris Drive
February 20, 2022 - 7:06 am
At 7:02 pm, on February 18, the Saskatoon Fire Department received a report of a garage on fire. Three fire engines, one rescue unit, a ladder truck and the Battalion Chief responded. On arrival, the garage had smoke showing. Firefighters began preparing to enter the garage. Incoming fire crews were assigned tactical duties to perform on their arrivals. It was reported that there was paint, acetylene, oxygen tank and a vehicle inside. Upon entry into the garage, firefighters encountered smoke and began advancing to the area on fire. Consideration was given to the effects of heat and flame impingement on the tanks and chemicals stored inside as a safety precaution. Utilities were shut down. The fire was brought under control at 7:32 pm.
The Fire Investigator on call responded to the fire scene. A scene examination was performed. Occupant had been doing work inside the garage an hour prior to the fire. Cause of the fire was sparks from a grinder that caught used rags in the area on fire. Fire originated inside the garage where the work had been performed. Occupant heard a loud bang when it was realized the garage was on fire. Tires being stored overhead heating and catching fire were the source of the loud bang heard. Damage is estimated to be $100,000.
No one was hurt as a result of this fire.
Apartment fire – 200 block of Avenue N South
February 11, 2022 - 12:12 pm
At 9:05 a.m. on February 11, 2022, the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) received a call reporting a fire on the second floor of an apartment building on the 200 block of Avenue N South. Four engines, one ladder, one rescue truck and one battalion chief were dispatched.
Upon arriving, fire crews observed heavy smoke coming from a suite on the second floor of the building. One fire crew proceeded with an interior attack and advanced a hose line to apply water to the fire. Meanwhile, another crew continued to evacuate occupants on all floors of the apartment building.
The fire was extinguished by 9:22 a.m. and crews began ventilating the building of residual smoke and carbon monoxide at 9:24 a.m. Once the building was fully vented, occupants were let back into their suites at 10:02 a.m.
During the incident, two occupants required care and were treated by SFD’s firefighter-paramedics for smoke inhalation. One patient’s care was transferred to the ambulance service and taken to hospital; the other was released with minor injuries. Two cats were rescued from the burning suite; one was declared deceased on scene.
SFD’s Fire Investigator deemed the cause of the fire as accidental due to careless use of a flammable device. Fire damage is estimated at $40,000.
Update - Fire at 300 Block of 109th Street West
February 9, 2022 - 3:19 pm
The Fire Investigator was able to re-enter the structure on February 8, 2022. Scene examination for the fire in the 300 Block of 109th Street West has concluded. Fire originated in the service/furnace room. Cause of the fire has been determined to be accidental due to combustibles being too close to the water heater. Combustible material was ignited by the flame of the water heater resulting in the fire.
Structure Fire - 400 Block of Avenue L North
February 8, 2022 - 8:19 pm
At 5:04 pm, Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) received a call of a structure on fire in the 400 Block of Avenue L North. Three fire engines, one ladder unit, one rescue truck and the Battalion Chief responded. The first arriving engine reported a structure with flame and smoke showing. Tactical duties were assigned to incoming fire crews and the fire investigator was requested. The location of the fire was identified in the basement and interior fire crew were assigned to enter the basement. At 5:16 p.m., fire crews began knocking the fire down. The Fire Investigator arrived at 5:46 p.m.
The Fire Investigator performed a cause and origin scene examination.
Cause of the fire is undetermined at this time. Fire originated in a basement bedroom.
Damage is estimated at $20,000.
Update - Structure fire in 300 Block of 109th Street West
January 31, 2022 - 11:28 am
The Fire Investigation into the cause and origin of the fire in the 300 Block of 109th Street West is ongoing due to the current condition of the structure after the fire. An update will be provided once available.
During the incident, firefighters were performing searches to ensure no occupants remained inside the structure. While conducting the searches, fire conditions changed drastically inside the structure where all combustible material ignited simultaneously. This created a flash over condition. Two firefighters were in a situation where they needed to evacuate the structure immediately. They took safe haven in a bedroom closing the door behind them. This room had a window. Using SFD’s tactical self preservation methods, they sent an alert over the radio that overrides the entire radio transmissions over the entire fire ground. They initiated a “mayday” and relayed conditions, the actions being taken and their needs. The two firefighters using their tactical training were performing a “bail out” where they broke the window, fire ground firefighters brought a ladder to the window and the firefighters used their training tactics to hook onto the window frame and leverage themselves onto the ladder.
Both firefighters safely evacuated the structure without injury.
An incident debriefing and peer support was provided immediately to the firefighters involved in the self evacuation and the personnel involved in this incident.
Firefighter safety is everyone’s priority but the job they perform comes with risks. It is the extensive training beyond performing rescues and tactics where they practice self preservation that are integral to firefighter safety.
With any incident of significance to firefighter safety, an after-action review is being conducted. The purpose of a review allows for an assessment of actions taken, evaluate procedures and enhance safety if warranted.
Structure Fire - 300 Block of 109th Street West
January 30, 2022 - 9:16 am
At 5:13 a.m., the Saskatoon Fire Department was called for a report of a fire in a furnace room. Dispatched to the scene were 3 fire engines, 1 ladder unit, 1 rescue unit and the Battalion Chief. First fire engine and crew on scene reported heavy smoke and flame showing from the basement. Fire crews shut the natural gas off. A power line was down in the backyard. All incoming fire crews were assigned tactical duties and a safety officer was appointed. Utility companies were notified by Fire Dispatchers to respond for scene safety and ensure utilities were completely shut down. Fire Investigator was dispatched at 5:26 a.m. to attend.
Extinguishment and searches by fire crews were performed to ensure no occupants remained in the structure. Fire crews had the fire under control in the basement but the fire extended to the main floor and through the roof. The ladder truck and its fire crew were positioned from the hydraulic ladder to extinguish the fire showing itself in the attic/roof area. Ground level fire crews switched from an interior attack to an exterior attack at 6:24 a.m.
Fire crews are still on scene at this time.
All occupants of the structure are accounted for and the smoke alarms alerted them to the fire.
An update will be provided at a later time.
Extrication required at motor vehicle accident - 19th Street and 1st Avenue
January 24, 2022 - 11:59 am
At 9:42 a.m. on January 24, 2022, a fire crew from the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) were returning to their station from a previous incident when they came upon a two vehicle accident. One occupant of a vehicle involved required extrication. A rescue unit and the Battalion Chief were dispatched to support the accident scene. The police and ambulance service were notified by the SFD Dispatchers to respond. Fire crews stabilized the vehicle and de-energized the battery to prepare for extrication of the occupant who presented minor injuries. A hydraulic cutting tool was used by firefighters to open the driver's door to assist the occupant out of the vehicle.
The ladder truck from the closest fire station was required to provide extra bags of absorbent material needed to clean up diesel that had leaked from a one ton cube van. An SFD maintenance vehicle also responded to transport and properly dispose of the material used to soak up the leaked fluids on the ground.
Patient care was transferred to the ambulance service. Saskatoon Police Service were left with the scene.
Fire crews returned to station at 10:28 a.m.
Garage fire - 2500 Block of Clarence Avenue South
January 16, 2022 - 12:00 pm
At 11:48 p.m. on January 15, 2022, Saskatoon Fire Department Communications Center received a report that a garage was on fire in the 2500 Block of Clarence Avenue South. Three fire engines, one ladder truck, one rescue unit and a Battalion Chief responded. A fire crew arrived at 11:51 p.m. and reported heavy smoke showing from a detached garage. Fire crews initially attacked the fire using the hose line in the bumper of the fire engine. Access to the interior of the garage was made through the man door. All other incoming fire crews were assigned tactical duties to perform on their arrivals. This fire was brought under control at midnight on January 16, 2022. Fire crews completed checking all areas of the roof and attic to ensure the flame or heat hadn't extended. At 12:46 a.m., the last fire crew on scene returned to their station to begin the work of getting tools cleaned and ensuring the fire engine was fully equipped and ready to respond.
A Fire Investigator had been requested to attend the fire scene. The scene was turned over to the Fire Investigator who conducted a cause and origin scene examination. Fire was determined to be accidental due to a block heater cord being plugged into an extension cord. The cord had been pinched from the hood being closed and compressing it. Fire originated in the hood area of the vehicle. Damage from this fire is estimated to be $60,000. Fire Investigator left the scene once the garage was secured.