Saskatoon Fire - News Releases

Saskatoon Fire Department crews responded to 2 house fires,a garage fire and dumpster fire with in a hour of each other this morning.

More information will be provided this afternoon.

Apartment fire at 530 25^th Street East

For immediate release: January 26, 2020

At 3: 23 this afternoon the Saskatoon Fire Department received a residential fire signal at a thirteen story residential apartment building.  The initial arriving Engine company officer found nothing showing from the exterior of the building.  Crews entering the building located smoke on the third floor from a fire confined to a single residential suite.  Fire crews evacuated most residents from the building, those with mobility issues were sheltered in their suites.

Upon entering into the fire suite, fire crews noted the fire had been extinguished by the buildings fire suppression, sprinkler system.  However, heavy smoke remained throughout the third floor.  As a result higher than normal levels of Carbon Monoxide were noted on the third floor and above.  Those residents who exited the building were sheltered in the neighboring YWCA building until it was deemed safe to re-enter their suites. 

Fire Crews conducted Positive Pressure Ventilation floor by floor to evacuate any smoke and toxic gasses.  Measures were also take to prevent any excessive water damage from the buildings fire suppression system. Once CO levels throughout the build returned to zero residents were allowed to return to their suites.

A Fire Department Investigator has deemed the cause of the fire as a result of a candle which ignited stationery on a desk.  Due to the significant amount of water from the sprinklers system, damage is estimated at $100,000.00

One year ago, on January 22, 2019 at approximately 9:26 in the morning, a 52-car Canadian National Railway (CN) train transporting grain product derailed across a major thoroughfare north of Saskatoon. The Saskatoon Fire Department responded with 18 different fire apparatus staffed by dozens of firefighters. Working together with neighbouring fire departments, crews worked from both sides of the derailed train to neutralize the hazard. Four news releases were issued by the Saskatoon Fire Department, the agency in command of the incident throughout its duration. The Emergency Management Organization, as part of the Saskatoon Fire Department response, responded with the mobile command unit to support the process of incident command and to coordinate response and recovery efforts.

The Emergency Management Organization (EMO) works with City of Saskatoon colleagues, community partners, government agencies, businesses, non-profit groups, first responders, and citizens to promote and strengthen emergency management and business continuity. Working collaboratively with these groups, the EMO coordinates preparedness, planning, response, and recovery with the goal of making Saskatoon a safer and more resilient community.

An incident of this magnitude is complex; no single agency or organization can respond independently to an incident as demanding as a train derailment. During the January 2019 response, 28 different agencies or organizations were involved in the recovery and rehabilitation efforts. When multiple agencies and organizations are involved, the Incident Command System (ICS) must be implemented. ICS is a standardized on-site management system designed to enable effective, efficient incident management by integrating a combination of facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures, and communications operating within a common organizational structure.

This event impacted a number of municipalities, identifying the need for a regional resilience plan. The City of Saskatoon continually evaluates and improves emergency response plans, working together with partner agencies and organizations to identify the needs of large scale responses involving multiple responders.

The mobile command unit was deployed 36 times in 2019 resulting in 152 hours of activation.

With winter in Saskatchewan, we’re never sure what to expect – from extreme temperatures to potentially heavy snowfall, residents and visitors of Saskatoon must be prepared for it all. The Saskatoon Fire Department emphasizes the importance of the following tips and recommendations on home and vehicle safety for winter weather:

Heating Equipment:

• Always plug space heaters directly into a wall outlet; never use an extension cord,
• Be sure to turn off and unplug space heaters when you leave the room or are going to sleep,
• Never use space heaters to dry combustible items,
• Keep children, pets, and combustible items at least one metre away from heating equipment,
• Place a screen in front of your wood-burning or gas fireplace,
• Keep all heat sources free from dust, lint, and chemical product,
• Never use your oven to heat your home, and
• Have a reputable and qualified company install and maintain all heating equipment; inspect gas or oil burning furnaces annually.

Outdoor Home Vents/Pipes:

After a heavy snowfall, freeze-thaw cycle, or extreme cold temperatures, check your furnace, water heater, chimney, and dryer vents and pipes to verify that they are free of snow and ice buildup or other obstructions. Obstructed vents and pipes can negatively affect your home’s function and can result in the accumulation of carbon monoxide inside your home.

Vehicle Block Heaters:

• Always use a heavy-duty, three wire, three pronged, extension cord that is rated for outdoor use,
• Be sure to check your block heater cord, as well as your extension cord, to make sure that neither are cracked or frayed,
• Always keep your block heater plug covered with its protective cap when not in use,
• Be sure to thoroughly clean off the prongs on both the block heater plug, as well as the extension cord ends,
• Check to make sure your block heater cord is positioned through the proper channels and is not pinched under the car or wrapped around sharp metal objects in the engine compartment, and
• Never drive over your extension cord; this may cause additional wear on the cord and/or its plugs.

If you happen to drive away while your vehicle is still plugged in, remember to check the block heater, extension cord, and electrical outlet for damage and, if necessary, replace the damaged components before the vehicle is plugged in again.

Stay warm, Saskatoon! In an emergency, call 911 immediately.

Just before 8:00 PM this evening, Saskatoon Fire Department responded to a structure fire on the 1700 block of Avenue C North. Three Engines, one Ladder Truck, one Rescue Unit, and a Battalion Chief were dispatched. The first Engine was on scene in less than three minutes. 

Heavy flames were coming from multiple basement windows of the raised bungalow. The crew immediately used two attack lines to begin battling the fire from two sides of the house through the basement windows. As additional manpower arrived on scene and a water supply established, the firefighters made headway with extinguishment of the main body of fire. Once it was determined interior conditions were tenable, crews attempted to continue with an  interior attack strategy but the floor had been extensively damaged and it was deemed unsafe to make entry on the main floor.

It had been reported that there may possibly be one tenant inside the basement suite which had been totally engulfed in fire before the Departments arrival on scene. A primary search could not be completed until conditions were deemed safer and visibility improved. Information was soon obtained indicating the occupant had been staying at another location for days. 

The structure had many void spaces in the walls along with wood chip insulation. It was very difficult to extinguish all hotspots and fire extension, but they managed to contain the fire to the lower levels of the home, preventing it from extending into the attic. The work involved was extensive due to the difficult structure and the extreme cold. Two more Engines did respond to the scene later in the incident to relieve exhausted crews. It took just over three hours to achieve an under control. 

One firefighter received a minor injury and was sent to the hospital for a puncture wound which was obtained while working  around the exterior of the structure.

Investigators from Saskatoon Fire Department and Saskatoon Police were on scene. The cause has not yet been determined nor has a damage estimate been given.