Saskatoon Fire - News Releases
Saskatoon News Releases
Commercial Fire - 1800 Block of McOrmond Drive
May 13, 2023 - 4:30 pm
At 12:37 a.m. on May 13, 2023, the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) received a phone call from an alarm monitoring company that there was a commercial fire signal at a business in the 1800 Block of McOrmond Drive. Dispatched to the scene were three fire engines and one ladder truck. The first arriving crew identified an extinguished fire in a commercial kitchen. Fire alarm was ringing which sent a signal to the monitoring company who called the SFD. All other incoming fire crews were cancelled.
Automatic fire suppression equipment serving over the cooking appliances had activated, discharging suppression agent, and extinguished the fire. The officer on scene requested the attendance of an SFD Fire Investigator.
Upon investigation, it was determined that the fire was caused by unattended cooking. The activation of the automatic suppression system minimized the fire damage which is estimated at $15,000. Accidental fire that originated in a pot on top of a burner which had been left on.
Due to the automatic suppression system needing to be serviced back to its normal operation along with other deficiencies identified, the SFD placed a closure on the business. This closure will be lifted once the deficiencies have been rectified and clean up has occurred.
No injuries resulted from this fire. The business was unoccupied at the time of the fire.
Care of the business was left with the property management company.
Commercial fire - 1900 block of Quebec Avenue
May 8, 2023 - 3:45 pm
At 10:26 a.m. on May 8, 2023, the Saskatoon Fire Department was alerted to a heavy smoke in the area of 1900 block Quebec Ave. One fire engine was dispatched, first arriving fire crews found heavy smoke and visible flames in a metal recycling pile. Additional resources were requested, 2 additional fire engines, one ladder truck and the Battalion Chief were dispatched to the scene. All incoming fire crews were assigned their tactical duties.
An attack on the fire was conducted by fire crews utilizing the ladder truck as well as a large volume ground monitor. Traffic detours were set up on Quebec Avenue to protect water supply hoses running across the road. Fire crews worked with equipment operators on site to use heavy equipment to open up the pile allowing access to fully extinguish the fire. Firefighters brought the fire under control at 11:19 a.m. however, remained on scene extinguishing small hot spots. By 1:30 p.m. the traffic restrictions were removed and the incident was concluded.
Cause of the fire is undetermined. There is no damage estimate at this time.
No injuries to fire fighters or civilians were reported.
Test notifyow alert planned for Saskatoon
May 8, 2023 - 8:00 am
- SMS text message
- Voice call to a landline
- Voice call to a cell phone
Saskatoon residents are expected to receive a notifynow test alert on Tuesday, May 9, 2023.
The City of Saskatoon’s public safety alert program, notifynow, is used to notify the public in real-time of a public safety situation. The municipal emergency alert system will be tested at 10:00 a.m. as part of Emergency Preparedness Week.
“Alerts from notifynow are only issued when there is an impending, escalating or occurring emergency situation in the city and immediate action needs to be taken,” explains Pamela Goulden-McLeod, Director of Saskatoon Emergency Management Organization (EMO). “Testing the system allows us to ensure the system works as expected.”
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:
Subscribers can choose one communication method or all of them.
“We strongly encourage residents to create an account and provide their contact information to receive messages via text, email or phone,” says Goulden-McLeod. “It’s also important for residents to check their profile on notifynow and make sure their information is up to date.”
For additional information about Saskatoon’s alert system, visit saskatoon.ca/notifynow.
The provincial emergency public alerting system, SaskAlert, will also be tested on Wednesday, May 10 at 1:55 p.m. For information about SaskAlert, visit saskpublicsafety.ca.
Saskatoon Fire Department welcomes 10 new recruits
May 5, 2023 - 9:30 am
The Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) welcomed 10 new firefighter-paramedics to the fire service at a private graduation ceremony this afternoon. The ceremony recognized the recruits’ successful completion of their comprehensive training programs, and each were presented with their badges and battalion assignments.
All 10 firefighter-paramedics have completed basic training in firefighting, technical rescue, hazardous material mitigation and fire inspections. They are also certified to the level of Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) and are licensed through the Saskatchewan College of Paramedics. Their training and experience have prepared them for operating effectively on high-hazard emergency scenes.
“Firefighter safety is a top priority at SFD and the best way to ensure that our firefighters can perform their duties safely and effectively is through comprehensive training. Over the past four weeks, our team of Fire Service Instructors have worked with the recruits to review their firefighter and paramedic skills and further develop the necessary competencies they need to execute their duties in the face of challenging situations”, says Anthony Tataryn, Assistant Chief of Staff Development and Safety. “As a fire department, we aspire to lead in training, recognizing the critical role it plays in the safety of both our staff and residents.”
In 2022, SFD set a record of 21,848 incidents; a 55% increase in call volume since 2018. The data in the first quarter of 2023 continues to reflect the climb in incidents.
“Our firefighters don’t just respond to fires. They are trained in a wide scope of emergency response,” says Fire Chief Morgan Hackl. “The growing number of incidents in our city puts added demands on our firefighters on the frontline and so it’s important that we bring in recruits who are not only eager to respond to high-hazard situations but are also qualified in a variety of skill sets.”
The new firefighter-paramedics will start their first shifts beginning Monday, May 8.
Chief Hackl adds, “We are excited to welcome these 10 firefighter-paramedics to the fire service and we look forward to their continued success at SFD.”
Saskatoon Fire Department celebrates Emergency Preparedness Week
May 5, 2023 - 10:00 am
- 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.
Emergency Preparedness Week (May 7-13, 2023) 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 occur 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.
"Emergency Preparedness Week is an important reminder that disasters can happen at any time and being prepared can make all the difference," says Pamela Goulden-McLeod, Director of Emergency Management. "We encourage everyone to take the time to review their emergency plans, update their emergency kits, and learn about the potential hazards in their community. By taking a few simple steps to prepare and plan for emergencies, we can become better prepared to face any unexpected situation that may come our way."
Residents and business owners are encouraged to participate in Emergency Preparedness Week by taking the time to:
For additional information about emergency preparedness, visit: saskatoon.ca/emo.
Residential structure fire - 100 block Avenue H North
May 1, 2023 - 11:15 am
At 4:57 a.m. on April 30, 2023, the Saskatoon Fire Department received a report from police of a fire in the back yard at a residential structure in the 100 block of Avenue H North. One fire engine was dispatched, updated information from police that the fire was threatening the structure. Additional resources were requested, two fire engines, one rescue unit, one ladder truck and the Battalion Chief were dispatched to assist. First arriving fire crews found visible flames on the rear of the structure. The neighboring structure also caught fire as a result of the heat and flames. All incoming fire crews were assigned their tactical duties.
An exterior attack on the fire was conducted immediately by fire crews. Once a secure water supply was established by connecting to a hydrant, the fire crews made entry to both structures to search for occupants. A Fire Investigator and Police Arson Investigator were requested to attend. Firefighters had both structures under control at 5:44 a.m. The fire scene was turned over to the Fire Investigator and the Police Arson Investigator.
Three members of the Saskatoon Police Service and one occupant of the structure were transported to hospital for smoke inhalation.
Cause of the fire is suspicious. Damage is estimated at $100,000. The remainder of the investigation has been turned over to Saskatoon Police Service.
Multi-unit residential structure fire - 100 Block of Avenue U South
April 21, 2023 - 12:15 pm
At 6:27 a.m. on April 21, 2023, the Saskatoon Fire Department received a report of a fire alarm sounding in a multi-residential structure. Three fire engines, one rescue unit, one ladder truck and the Battalion Chief were dispatched. All incoming fire crews were assigned their tactical duties.
Fire crews found a small fire and heavy smoke on the upper floors of the building. Fire crews had to use the ladder truck to rescue 3 occupants off the balcony of one of the suites. One of the occupants from the building was assessed by paramedics on scene and released. A Fire Investigator was requested to attend. Firefighters brought the fire under control and used fans to clear the smoke from the building. At 8:23 a.m. the fire scene was turned over to the Fire Investigator.
Cause of the fire has been deemed suspicious and the investigation has been turned over to Saskatoon Police Service. Damage is estimated at $30,000.
Saskatoon Fire Department would like to remind the public that when a fire alarm sounds everyone must safely evacuate the building. The activation of a fire alarm is a warning that the conditions inside the structure are dangerous to life or health.
Motor Vehicle Accident - 22nd Street and Diefenbaker Drive
October 8, 2022 - 9:28 am
At 10:41 p.m. on October 7, 2022, the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) Communications Center received a call for a motor vehicle accident involving a semi and an SUV with possible entrapment. Two fire engines, one rescue unit and the Battalion Chief were dispatched. The first fire crew arrived at 10:45 p.m. and confirmed air bags deployed and patients trapped in the vehicle. The driver's side door required removal with hydraulic tools. Two patients were in the vehicle, a driver and a front passenger. The passenger door was able to be pried opened by firefighters without tools. Fire crews removed a female patient from the passenger side of the vehicle and began providing immediate medical care. The other fire crews were preparing for the removal of the driver door to extricate the driver. At 10:54 p.m., the door was removed and firefighters began immediate medical care on a male.
Medical care of both patients was transferred to the ambulance service and their crews. Three SFD primary care paramedics rode in the ambulances to the hospital to assist the ambulance crews with patient care. Our firefighters were picked up at the hospital and returned to their fire stations. Current status of the patients is not known to the SFD.
The Saskatoon Police Service continue their accident investigation.
Fire crews were requested and responded at 7:55 a.m. on October 8, 2022 back to the site of the accident by the Saskatoon Police Service. Firefighters cleaned up fluids that had leaked onto the street.
The Saskatoon Fire Department employs 280 firefighters of which 140 are primary care paramedics.
Grass Fire - Wanuskewin Road and Penner Road
October 5, 2022 - 7:03 pm
At 4:01 p.m. on October 5, 2022, the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) received a report of a grass fire in the area of Wanuskewin Road and Penner Road. One fire engine, two brush trucks, two tanker trucks and the Battalion Chief responded to the grass fire. The first arriving fire crew reported no structures at risk of exposure to the fire. All incoming fire crews were assigned their duties. SFD remains on scene at this time. The grass fire continues to be extinguished and brought under control.
An SFD Fire Investigator will not be attending. The grass fire is outside Saskatoon's city limits.
High Angle Rescue - Taylor Street & Circle Drive
September 30, 2022 - 5:39 pm
At 12:57 p.m., on September 30, 2022, the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) received a call for a female hanging off the overpass on Taylor Street over Circle Drive. Dispatched were one fire engine, one ladder truck, one rescue unit and the Battalion Chief. First arriving crew at 1:01 p.m. reported a female hanging over the freeway requiring rescue. Incoming fire crews were assigned their duties on their arrival. At 1:05 p.m., the ladder truck, SFD's Ladder 8 set up and got in position to rescue the female. A firefighter entered the area and was secured to the chain link fence to reduce the risk of the female falling . Police on scene stopped traffic to create a safe working space for the fire crews and motorists. Firefighters maintained verbal contact with the female while a firefighter was secured in the basket of the ladder truck and got positioned close to the female. When the female attempted to move away from the ladder truck, the firefighter secured to the fence pinned himself and the female to the chain link so the ladder truck could position under them and bring the female into the bucket.
The female was brought down safely to the ground without incident at 1:11 p.m. The scene and the female were turned over to the Saskatoon Police Service. Our partners at City of Saskatoon were notified that firefighters had cut the chain link fence to allow access. Repairs to the fence will be followed up.
No injuries to the female, motorists, firefighters or police occurred as a result of this rescue.