Saskatoon Fire - News Releases

At 22:20, March 7^th, 2020 The Saskatoon Fire Department received a request from the R.M. of Montrose Fire Dept. for assistance in dealing with a fire at the Nutrien Vanscoy Potash Operation at 16 Agrium Rd, Vanscoy. The initial request was for Hazmat support and consultation in dealing with a chemical fire that involve 3 tanks. Hazmat 7 was dispatched at approximately 20:32 and reported to Incident Command on site.

Hazmat 7 assisted with developing an Incident Action Plan and it was determined that 2 Engines with master stream capability would be a starting point for gaining control of the fire and protecting nearby structures. The 2 Engines were added to the dispatch at 00:15 and remained on scene until the operation scaled back. At approx. 05:00 the SFD was released from the scene, however the incident is still ongoing.

A damage estimate has not been given and there were no reported injuries due to this incident. Complete product descriptions and amounts are not available at the time of this release.

As spring gets closer, the Saskatoon Fire Department would like to pass on some tips to help make sidewalks safer during the freeze-thaw cycle that is beginning to occur.

Keeping sidewalks safe for pedestrians

Be a good neighbour to help prevent slips and falls: residents are required to clear sidewalks adjacent to their property within 48 hours from when any snow, ice, or debris forms or builds up.

What you can do:

• Clear snow before it settles, hardens, and packs-down
• Chip ice during the day when it is soft and easier to break
• Use sand or salt to increase traction and/or melt ice from the sidewalk
• Leave snow on your yard to keep drains and curbs clear

Be careful walking on icy or snow-covered sidewalks.

Preventing a fall:

If you encounter snow and/or ice on the sidewalk, walk like a penguin!

Keep your weight over your front leg, take small steps, and maintain a shoulder-width foot separation with your toes angled outwards; doing this will increase your stability and helps reduce the risk of a fall.

In an emergency, call 911 immediately.

For more information regarding Bylaw No. 8463, The Sidewalk Clearing Bylaw, visit www.saskatoon.ca/bylaws.

On March 2, 2020 at approximately 4:47 pm, The Saskatoon Fire Department received a call informing dispatchers of a male patient in distress in the Sutherland dog park on the river bank.  One engine company, one rescue company and a battalion chief responded to the scene.  Crews were met in the parking lot by the caller and directed to the area where the patient was located.  Due to the location of the patient and the steep and slippery conditions, the crews had to set up a low angle technical rope rescue system to gain access to and safely remove the patient from the river bank.  Once the patient was brought to level ground the fire department transferred the patient to Medavie services for further assessment and transport.

There were no injuries at this incident.

The Saskatoon Fire Department received a 911 call at 8:22 pm on February 27, 2020 reporting smoke and fire in a townhouse on Fairbrother Crescent.  Dispatched to the scene were 3 Engines, a Ladder, a Rescue, a Battalion Chief and a Fire Investigator.  Upon arrival  firefighters confirmed three occupants were outside.  The Incident Command directed firefighters to advance hose lines into the structure and within a few minutes had the fire under control.  

The fire investigation has determined the origin to be attributed to a failure with the dishwasher in the main floor kitchen.  Smoke damage is estimated to have cause $25,000.00 damage.

At approximately 9:42 a.m. on February 25, 2020, the Saskatoon Fire Department and the Emergency Management Organization responded to a mail processing facility, located at 817 51st Street East, for reports of a suspicious package leaking its contents. 

One fire engine, one haz-mat unit, one decontamination unit, one mobile command unit, and multiple support staff responded to the scene.

Fire dispatchers advised all occupants that were inside of the facility to shelter in place until the arrival of fire crews. Upon arrival of the first responding fire crew, an evacuation of the facility was performed; one individual was medically assessed and placed into isolation for having direct exposure to the contents of the package. 

Haz-mat technicians made entry to the facility to obtain shipment information and perform tests to identify the contents of the package.

The contents of the package were identified as approximately one quart of a non-hazardous liquid fertilizer that is used in the rooting and growth of plants; there is no risk to public safety. 

The individual that had been placed in isolation was released without the need of further medical evaluation. The leaking package was contained and removed from the facility for disposal.

The Saskatoon Fire Department and the Emergency Management Organization have concluded on scene and the facility has been turned back over to management.