Saskatoon Fire - News Releases

At 10:57 a.m. on July 8, 2022, the Saskatoon Fire Department received a call for smell of smoke inside a commercial establishment and smoke coming from the roof.  Dispatched to the fire were three fire engines, one rescue unit, one ladder truck and the Battalion Chief.  On arrival, smoke was showing from the roof but no evacuation of occupants had been initiated.  Fire crews were tasked with laddering the roof to begin extinguishment and other fire crews began evacuating the occupants to the North side of the street to keep everyone out of the smoke drift.  Approximately 130 occupants were evacuated by fire crews.  No occupants sustained injury.  An additional two fire engines were dispatched to the scene to support suppression and evacuation operations.  

The fire was contained to the roof area with smoke coming through the bathroom and furnace room ventilation system.  Fire crews had the fire under control at 11:31 p.m.  After firefighters confirmed there were no extensions or hot spots from the fire, they turned the scene over to the Fire Investigator.

Cause of the fire is from tarring being performed earlier in the day.  Origin of the fire was the roof top.  Damage is estimated at $25,000.  

Further follow up will be conducted by the Fire Prevention team of the SFD as the fire alarm was not activated by any person/staff.  It was determined that the fire alarm was not operational at the time of the fire.  Fire alarms are an alert and early warning system telling occupants that they must evacuate.  The establishment was closed down for the remainder of the night and directed to rectify immediate deficiencies prior to going back into operation.

At 5:39 a.m. on July 4, 2022, the Saskatoon Fire Department received report of a porch fully involved in the 300 block of Avenue J South.  Dispatched to the fire were three fire engines, one ladder truck, one rescue unit, and the Battalion Chief.  The first arriving fire crew reported heavy flames visible from the street.  

Neighbors to the structure fire on Avenue J South had evacuated their homes as a safety precaution.  Fire crews were assigned their tactical duties.  A priority for the firefighters was to protect the neighboring properties.  Extinguishment of the fire began from the exterior.  Utility companies were called to shut down service for scene safety.  This fire was brought under control at 5:51 a.m.  At 6:41 a.m., the firefighters declared the structure fire completely extinguished, no further signs of fire extension and hot spots. 

At 5:49 a.m., fire crews identified a fire in the yard of a property adjacent to the structure fire across the alley in the 300 Block of Avenue K South while extinguishing the Avenue J structure fire.  A fire crew was assigned and redeployed from the structure fire to extinguish items in the yard.  This separate fire was brought under control at 6:04 a.m.

No injuries to civilians or firefighters occurred as a result of this fire.  Both fire scenes were turned over to the Fire Investigator.  The fire investigations have concluded.

300 Block of Avenue J South (Structure fire)                                    300 Block of Avenue K South

Cause:  Suspicious                                                                               Cause:  Suspicious

Origin:  Porch                                                                                       Origin:  Couch in yard

Fire Damage:  $175, 000                                                                     Fire Damage:  $1500

Anyone with any information on these two fires, please call the Saskatoon Police Service at 306-975-8300.

At 8:43 p.m., the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) received a request by the Saskatoon Police Service to search for a possible person in the river.  Dispatched to the river were one engine company, an SFD boat and the Battalion Chief.  The SFD boat was in the river and heading to the last point scene at 8:52 p.m.  The shoreline and river were searched.  Using the SFD's handheld Sonar, equipment that uses sound waves underwater to identify objects, two objects of interest were identified at 9:22 p.m.  Divers from SFD entered the river and began searching the area.  At 9:51 p.m., a person was located and CPR was initiated.  

An SFD paramedic responded to the hospital with the ambulance service.  The scene and follow up were left with the Saskatoon Police Service.  

At 8:43 p.m., the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) received a request by the Saskatoon Police Service to search for a possible person in the river.  Dispatched to the river were one engine company, an SFD boat and the Battalion Chief.  The SFD boat was in the river and heading to the last point scene at 8:52 p.m.  The shoreline and river were searched.  Using the SFD's handheld Sonar, equipment that uses sound waves underwater to identify objects, two objects of interest were identified at 8:22 p.m.  Divers from SFD entered the river and began searching the area.  At 8:51 p.m., a person was located and CPR was initiated.  

An SFD paramedic responded to the hospital with the ambulance service.  The scene and follow up were left with the Saskatoon Police Service.  

At approximately 6:45 p.m. on June 9, the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) was notified approximately 6,000 litres to 8,000 litres of Sodium Hydroxide had spilled while being unloaded from a transport truck at an industrial site in the 100 block of McLeod Avenue.

One engine, a Battalion Chief, SFD’s Hazmat team and Command 9 were dispatched to investigate the scene. Upon arrival, crews found a storm drain closest to the spill had already been dammed by those on-site

The driver of the semi was treated for minor injuries at the scene but declined to be transported to hospital.

A Hazmat investigation determined there were no environmental impacts.