Saskatoon Fire - News Releases
Saskatoon News Releases
Structure Fire - 200 block of Avenue G South
August 1, 2020 - 10:28 pm
At approximately 8:13 p.m. on August 1, 2020, the Saskatoon Fire Department received a 911 call reporting a detached residential garage on fire in the 200 block of Avenue G South. Three fire engines, one rescue unit, one aerial ladder truck, one fire investigation unit, and one battalion chief were dispatched for response.
Arriving on scene in about two minutes, fire crews located a fully involved garage producing a significant amount of black smoke. As fire crews began connecting to nearby hydrants, the commanding fire officer notified fire dispatchers of a power pole on fire in the area and requested the attendance of the appropriate utility technicians. The fire, that had extended to a neighbouring fence, was quickly brought under control. Searches of the structure confirmed there to be no occupants or pets inside at the time of the fire and no injuries occurred as a result of this incident. Firefighters concluded their work on scene at around 9:14 p.m. and turned the scene over to a fire investigator.
The fire investigator has confirmed this fire to be incendiary and has estimated the damage at approximately $30,000.
Structure Fire - 800 block of 20th Street West
August 1, 2020 - 12:22 pm
At approximately 7:25 a.m. on August 1, 2020, the Saskatoon Fire Department received multiple 911 calls reporting black smoke exiting a residential structure in the 800 block of 20th Street West. Three fire engines, one rescue unit, one aerial ladder truck, one fire investigation unit, and one battalion chief were dispatched for response.
The first fire engine arrived on scene in two minutes to find a small bungalow with smoke visible from the exterior; firefighters were alerted on scene to the possibility of an occupant in the basement. Immediately connecting to nearby hydrants and making entry into the structure, firefighters located and extinguished a fire in the basement. All occupants were soon accounted for and were confirmed to have safely self-evacuated prior to the arrival of fire crews. Firefighters considered the fire to be under control by about 7:46 a.m. and confirmed the fire to have been contained to the basement. Ventilation was started to clear a significant amount of smoke from the structure. While performing searches, one deceased cat was located in the basement. Fire crews have since concluded on scene and returned to their stations to continue serving Saskatoon.
A fire investigator has identified this fire to be accidental as a result of the improper disposal of smoking materials. Damage is estimated at approximately $25,000.
Multi-Structure Fire - 300 block of 10th Street East
August 1, 2020 - 11:53 am
At approximately 1:43 a.m. on August 1, 2020, the Saskatoon Fire Department received a 911 call reporting a garage on fire in the 300 block of 10th Street East; additional calls indicated multiple garages on fire at this location. Three fire engines, one rescue unit, one aerial ladder truck, one fire investigation unit, and one battalion chief were dispatched for response.
Arriving on scene in about three minutes, fire crews located two fully involved detached residential garages and a household garbage bin on fire. Live, arcing power lines had fallen as a result of the fire; fire dispatchers alerted the appropriate utility technicians to attend the scene. An immediate defensive fire attack was initiated, with firefighters bringing the fire under control in about 10 minutes from the time of the first 911 call being processed. In addition to the garages, fire crews also extinguished a household garbage bin a short distance down the alley and a large tree that the garage fires had extended to. There were no injuries to fire or civilian personnel as a result of this incident.
Both fire and police investigators have concluded on scene, confirming this fire to be incendiary with damage estimated at about $30,000.
Vehicle Fire - 500 block of 5th Avenue North
August 1, 2020 - 11:17 am
At around 12:49 a.m. on August 1, 2020, the Saskatoon Fire Department received many 911 calls reporting a vehicle on fire near a building in the 500 block of 5th Avenue North. One fire engine, one fire investigation unit, and one battalion chief responded.
Arriving on scene in less than four minutes, firefighters immediately deployed a hose line and used the fire engine's on-board water supply to extinguish a fully involved GMC truck. Fire crews searched the truck and confirmed there to be no occupants inside. Minor heat damage occurred to the building as a result of this fire; the truck will be a total loss.
A fire investigator has confirmed the fire to have originated in the engine compartment and has estimated the damage to be approximately $15,000.
Grass Fire - Highway 60 in the area of the Saskatchewan Railway Museum
August 1, 2020 - 10:53 am
At approximately 8:53 a.m. on July 30, 2020, the Saskatoon Fire Department received a 911 call reporting a grass fire in the area of the Saskatchewan Railway Museum, near Highway 60 south of Saskatoon; the caller reported the fire to be moving towards nearby structures. One fire engine, two brush trucks, two water tankers, and one battalion chief were committed to this incident.
Upon arrival, firefighters immediately began work to extinguish the fire and protect surrounding exposures; using water tankers to establish a water supply on scene and moving across the rural terrain in brush trucks, fire crews extinguished multiple small fires in the area. Firefighters concluded their work on scene by about 11:38 a.m. when the commanding fire officer declared the loss to be stopped. No structures or museum artifacts were lost as a result of the fire and no injuries occurred.
As this area is outside of the Saskatoon Fire Department's investigative jurisdiction, a cause and origin determination was not conducted.
Public Service - Water Problem / Flooding - 400 block of Avenue C South
July 30, 2020 - 9:05 am
At approximately 9:52 p.m. on July 29, 2020, the Saskatoon Fire Department was alerted by both an alarm company and a 911 call to reports of water flowing into the parking garage of a multi-unit residential structure in the 400 block of Avenue C South. One fire engine was dispatched to investigate the concern.
Arriving in less than one minute, firefighters found an audible alarm sounding, a large evacuation in progress, and a significant amount of water flowing into the parking garage. As fire crews worked to find the source of the water, fire dispatchers began locating information about the building as well as its fire suppression equipment and servicing history. Firefighters confirmed the water to be coming from a compromised water main and requested the attendance of utility technicians from the City of Saskatoon. Most residents were able to safely remove their vehicles from the parking garage without issue while the water was being shut off.
The commanding fire officer informed the building manager that a fire watch would be required due to the fire suppression equipment and alarm panel being out of commission. Fire crews left the scene with the building manager at about 11:44 p.m. and returned to their stations to continue serving Saskatoon. A damage estimate for this incident is not available.
Water Rescue - Entanglement / Missing Person - Gordie Howe Bridge
July 30, 2020 - 12:14 am
At approximately 10:07 p.m. on July 29, 2020, the Saskatoon Fire Department received a 911 call reporting the anchor of an inflatable craft to have become entangled in the river with three persons on board the craft; as fire dispatchers obtained additional information, one person was reported to have gone missing from the craft. One fire engine, one water rescue unit, one public affairs official, and one battalion chief were committed to this incident.
The water rescue unit was deployed onto the South Saskatchewan River from an emergency boat launch and immediately advanced towards the area; quickly locating two persons and their craft, fire crews communicated with members of the Saskatoon Police Service who had located and safely retrieved the third person from this group near the shoreline of the Gordie Howe Bridge.
No injuries were sustained as a result of this incident. The water rescue unit has since been removed from the water and all fire personnel have returned to continue serving the residents and visitors of Saskatoon.
Commercial Structure Fire - Confederation Mall - 300 Confederation Drive
July 29, 2020 - 7:52 pm
At approximately 6:37 p.m. on July 29, 2020, the Saskatoon Fire Department received several 911 calls reporting visible smoke and flames coming from the roof of the Confederation Mall, located at 300 Confederation Drive. Three fire engines, one rescue unit, one aerial ladder truck, one fire investigation unit, and one battalion chief were dispatched for response.
Firefighters arrived on scene in just over one minute to find a significant amount of smoke in the area of the roof. Immediately making entry to the commercial structure, fire crews located the fire and extinguished it in less than 20 minutes from the time of the first fire engine arriving on scene; both a fire extinguisher and a fire hose flowing water were used in this fire's extinguishment. Firefighters were confident in confirming that the fire had not extended into the structure by about 7:06 p.m. and began concluding their work on scene. No injuries to fire or civilian personnel were reported as a result of this incident.
A fire investigator is conducting a cause and origin investigation to identify the specifics of this fire; the damage has not yet been assessed.
Fence / Structure Fire - 100 block of Martin Crescent
July 28, 2020 - 7:20 pm
At approximately 6:35 p.m. on July 28, 2020, the Saskatoon Fire Department received a 911 call reporting a fence on fire in the 100 block of Martin Crescent. Based on the initial information received, one fire engine was dispatched for response; upon receiving additional information from the caller, the response was upgraded to include two more fire engines, one rescue unit, one aerial ladder truck, one fire investigation unit, and one battalion chief.
Upon arrival of the first responding fire engine, a small section of fence was found to be burning between two residential structures; the fire was extending towards both exposures. Bringing the fire under control within minutes, firefighters then began to search for further extension into the structures and test carbon monoxide levels. There were no injuries to fire or civilian personnel as a result of this incident.
Fire crews are concluding on scene and will soon return to their stations to continue serving the residents and visitors of Saskatoon. A fire investigator is working to confirm a cause and assess the damage; upon an initial review, two structures and one fence are understood to have been damaged from the fire. An update will be provided upon new information becoming known.
UPDATE: Structure Fire - 400 block of 110th Street West
July 27, 2020 - 11:02 am
The investigation into a fire that occurred in the 400 block of 110th Street West on July 24, 2020 has concluded. A fire investigator has identified this fire to be accidental as a result of an overheated appliance that had been plugged into the stove. Damage is estimated at about $80,000.
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At approximately 11:40 a.m. on July 24, 2020, the Saskatoon Fire Department received a 911 call reporting a kitchen to be on fire at a residence in the 400 block of 110th Street West; while on the phone with fire dispatchers, the caller reported to have extinguished the fire with a garden hose but was unsure if it had extended beyond the kitchen. Three fire engines, one rescue unit, one aerial ladder truck, one fire investigation unit, and one battalion chief were dispatched for response.
Arriving in less than four minutes, firefighters located a partially extinguished fire in the area of the kitchen. The lone occupant had self-evacuated prior to the arrival of fire crews. Firefighters suppressed the remaining fire, confirming it to be fully extinguished by about 12:00 p.m. Fire crews searched the structure for possible extension and initiated ventilation to clear the area of remaining smoke and carbon monoxide. Firefighters have since concluded on scene and returned to their stations to continue serving Saskatoon.
A fire investigator is working to identify a cause and assess the damage.