Saskatoon Fire - News Releases

With dry conditions across all of Saskatchewan, the Saskatoon Fire Department would like to inform members of the public of provincial resources outlining the current jurisdictional fire bans in Saskatchewan. Additionally, residents are reminded of the requirements and regulations when using private or public fire pits within the City of Saskatoon.

Currently, there is no fire ban in effect for the City of Saskatoon. A complete and updated list of active fire bans, as well as information regarding wildfire in Saskatchewan can be found here.

Residents must ensure proper safety precautions and regulations are followed, with consideration being given to nearby properties when choosing to have an open-air fire in a private or public-use fire pit.

Burn Responsibly:

• Your fire pit must be made of non-combustible materials, and
• Only dry, cut seasoned cord wood or charcoal briquettes are permitted for burning. Burning elm branches is not permitted.

Burn Respectfully:

• Nuisance smoke can negatively affect the health of some people; fires producing nuisance, drifting smoke must be extinguished,
• Open-air fires must be extinguished by 11:00 p.m.,
• Garbage, yard waste, plastic, manure, livestock/animal carcasses, and any material producing dense black smoke, including insulation, hydrocarbons, rubber materials, and painted or creosoted wood are not permitted to be burned, and
• Communicate with your neighbours; they may appreciate being notified of your plan to have an open-air fire in advance.

Burn Safely:

• Position your open-air fire pit at least 3 metres from any combustible materials, including structures, fences, and trees,
• Cover your fire with a protective spark screen that has openings no larger than 13mm (1/2 inch),
• The size of your open-air fir pit must not be greater than 0.61 metres (24 inches) by 0.61 metres (24 inches) by 0.61 metres (24 inches),
• Supervise your fire at all times, always having a water supply on hand to extinguish your fire when you are finished with it, and
• Check the weather and respect wind speed, electing not to have a fire with winds exceeding 15 km/hr.

As per The Fire and Protective Services Bylaw No. 7990, open-air fires are prohibited outside of the permitted burning hours of 2:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily. Electric, propane, and natural gas appliances used in accordance with manufacturer direction are not considered open-air.

Public-use fire pits by location:

The fire pits located within City of Saskatoon parks and along Meewasin Valley Authority trails in Saskatoon abide by the same time and burning regulations as outlined in Bylaw 7990.

The fire pits located within the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo are permitted to burn outside of the hours specified in Bylaw 7990; however, are only permitted to burn during the hours of operation of the facility.

The fire pits located within the Gordon Howe Campground are permitted to burn outside of the hours specified in Bylaw 7990. Visitors to the Gordon Howe Campground are encouraged to inquire with a staff member regarding the facility’s fire pit policy.

For all private and public-use fire pits, only dry, cut seasoned cord wood or charcoal briquettes are permitted to be burned.

REMINDER: for acreage and farm properties located within the bounds of the City of Saskatoon, burn permits are required prior to initiating a controlled burn.

In an emergency, call 911 immediately.

Saskatoon fire department responded to a early morning garage fire at 215 Avenue E South. Trucks from # One hall, # Two hall, and a rescue truck from #Six hall responded to the incident.

The  detached garage that was located at the rear of this address was full involved on arrival. Fire crews quickly got the fire under control and the fire was confined to the building of origin. 

 Fire investigators are on scene investigating the fire. The cause of the is unknown at this time.

At 16:43 this afternoon, the Saskatoon Fire Department responded to a report of a truck pulling a boat trailer, and they had both slid into the river and become submerged. The incident took place at the public boat launch on Spadina Crescent.

The Fire Department responded with five water trained personnel and the Battalion Chief. Once crews arrived and assessed the scene, the decision to use rescue divers to hook cables up to the trailer first, then the truck, and pull them both out with the use of two tow trucks was agreed upon. 

The Firefighters were on scene for just over two hours, but working with the two truck operators, the truck and trailer were successfully and safely removed from the water and returned to dry land.

The cause is under investigation and fortunately, there were no injuries due to this incident.

Just before 2:00 PM the Saskatoon Fire Department responded to a two vehicle collision at 33rd Street and Circle Drive. One Engine, one Rescue Unit, and a Battalion Chief responded.

On arrival, crews found one passenger vehicle on its roof, with one occupant trapped inside. The other vehicle was a motorcycle with one rider, in the middle of the intersection.
Fire paramedics began patient care on the motorcycle rider whom had sustained serious, possibly life threatening injuries. Another crew of Firefighters began to stabilize the scene and the passenger vehicle, in order to begin extrication of the lone occupant. 

The motorcycle rider was transported to RUH by ambulance. A Firefighter paramedic travelled with the ambulance to assist with patient care while enroute to the hospital. The occupant of the passenger vehicle was successfully extricated and appeared to have sustained minor injuries.

Fire crews stopped a gasoline leak and cleaned up all fluids that had leaked from both vehicles. Police remain on scene to investigate the cause of the accident.

It is best to avoid the intersection while the investigation continues. 

The Saskatoon Fire Department responded to a grass fire at 09:17 this morning. The fire was just West of Chappell Drive. An Engine, Brush truck, Tanker, and the Battalion Chief were initially dispatched.

First arriving crews immediately attacked the main body of the grass fire to gain control of it. A second Brush truck and Tanker were called to assist at the scene to assist with fire extension further to the West. The fire was contained, under control, and extinguished in approximately one hour.

No structures were involved nor threatened at any time. No reported injuries occurred due to this incident. The cause of the fire is undetermined.

Today, the Saskatoon Fire Department welcomes eleven new firefighters who bring with them a host of knowledge and experience as they begin their careers with the fire service in Saskatoon.

“Each of the eleven firefighters have shown great initiative through prior experience, community involvement, and the thorough recruitment process in preparing to join the Saskatoon Fire Department,” says Fire Chief Morgan Hackl. “Today we celebrate their significant achievement.”

In addition, all of these firefighters are certified Primary Care Paramedics. The Saskatoon Fire Department has committed to having every fire crew staffed with firefighter-paramedics. In 2018, the Saskatoon Fire Department responded to 14,199 incidents; of those, 5,883 were critical medical emergencies.

These firefighters demonstrate our commitment towards enhanced front-line emergency care and the investment City Council continues to make in emergency services.

“The Saskatoon Fire Department’s ability to help visitors and residents of Saskatoon in a wide variety of emergencies makes our department a unique and fulfilling place to work. It also makes our city a great place to live.”

At approximately 1:55 this afternoon, the Saskatoon Fire Department received an emergency transmission over the radio from a Saskatoon Transit operator reporting a large grass fire in the area of 11th Street West and Fairlight Drive. 

One brush truck and one water tanker were immediately dispatched for response.

The first responding fire crew arrived in just over three minutes and observed a rapidly spreading grass fire that had extended towards nearby trees. The request for additional fire crews to attend was made; two fire engines and one battalion chief were dispatched to the scene to support firefighting efforts.

The Saskatoon Police Service was on scene facilitating traffic flow through the area; Fairlight Drive was closed to traffic while fire crews worked to control, contain, and extinguish the fire and any remaining hot spots.

There were no injuries reported as a result of this incident. 

At approximately 12:56 this afternoon, the Saskatoon Fire Department received a 911 call reporting a 54-foot shipping container on fire in the yard of 2435 Schuyler Street. Fire dispatchers obtained additional information from the caller for responding fire crews and quickly identified the product inside the shipping container to be a non-hazardous animal byproduct.

Three fire engines, one heavy rescue unit, one aerial ladder truck, and one battalion chief were dispatched for immediate response. One fire investigation unit was later requested for response. 

Upon arrival, heavy smoke and significant flame were observed exiting the shipping container. A nearby forklift had also been consumed by the extending flames and an adjacent building was being immediately threatened. All employees and visitors had self-evacuated the adjacent building to muster points in the yard. Fire crews conducted a search of the building's interior; however, no extension of the fire was found.

Fire crews brought the fire under control in less than 20 minutes. 

One individual was in need of medical attention as a result of the fire and was treated on scene for what are believed to be minor burns. The patient was not transported to hospital.

A fire investigator is working to determine a cause and damage estimate.

Saskatoon Fire Department responds to a four-plex fire at 501 Avenue H South

At 05:11 this evening The Saskatoon Fire Department received a 911 call reporting a house was on fire at 501 Avenue H South. 

Three Engines an Aerial Ladder a Heavy Rescue Truck and a Battalion Chief were dispatched to the scene.

First arriving crews arrived and found a single storey four-plex residential home with smoke and flames visible from the side and multiple areas of the roof.  Initial reports were that all of the suites were vacant.  Crews used attack hose lines on the visible flames while other crews prepared to enter the home to search for possible trapped occupants.  Once inside the home a thorough rescue search was conducted.  No occupants were found in any of the 4 suites.  Portions of the ceilings were removed and an Aerial Truck was set up as crews worked to extinguish any remaining hot spots in the roof. 

There were no injuries reported as a result of this fire.

A Fire Investigation Unit was called to the scene and the cause of the fire is currently under investigation. 

Damages are estimated at $250,000.

Each year, water enthusiasts head out to the many lakes and rivers across the country to indulge in water sports and activities. The Saskatoon Fire Department emphasizes the importance of having and maintaining the proper flotation equipment.

Lifejackets and personal flotation devices (PFDs) are extremely important pieces of equipment when in or around bodies of water. Slight variations between the function and purpose of lifejackets and PFDs exist; however, both act as a life-saving flotation device.

Start by selecting the appropriate flotation device for your desired purpose. Be sure that the flotation device has been approved to Canadian standards through Transport Canada, the Canadian Coast Guard, or Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Remember that if the activity you are participating in involves a human- or motor-powered watercraft, you are required by federal law to have an approved lifejacket or PFD for each person on board the craft. Consider whether a lifejacket or PFD best suits the demands of your water activity:

Lifejackets:

• Available in keyhole or vest styles,
• Designed to turn an unconscious person onto their back,
• Always orange, yellow, or red in colour to ensure high visibility, and
• Higher level of flotation than most PFDs.

Personal Flotation Devices:

• Available in a variety of styles and colours,
• Designed to keep a person afloat,
• Specially designed PFDs can be purchased for specific water activities, and
• Typically lighter, less bulky, and more comfortable than lifejackets.

For both lifejackets and PFDs, the fit should be snug while still allowing space to breathe and move freely. The fit is too large if it can be pulled upwards towards the ears, and is too small if it cannot be properly fastened.

In Saskatoon, lifejackets and PFDs are available for purchase at most sports and leisure retailers. Quality and function will influence the price of these flotation devices; however, a standard recreational-use lifejacket or PFD can often be purchased for $40 to $60.

Never use your flotation device for purposes of which it was not intended for; this could cause damage and wear that will affect the functionality of the flotation device. If the flotation device is expired, altered, ripped, or otherwise misshapen, it is no longer effective and must be replaced.

When finished with your flotation device, make sure it is properly stored in a dry and airy location. Allow ample time for drying if the flotation device is wet.

Cleaning & Care:

• Use a light soap,
• Rinse thoroughly with clean water,
• Air-dry the flotation device in a dry place where it will be out of direct sunlight, and
• Never use a direct heat source to dry your flotation device.

Always exercise safe practices when in or around larger bodies of water.

In an emergency, call 911 immediately.