Residential fire – 400 block of Avenue I North

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.