Saskatoon Fire - News Releases

Saskatoon News Releases

Garage fire – 1500 block of Avenue B North

November 4, 2021 - 9:09 am
Incident Number:
21-17086
Date and Time Incident was Reported:
More Information:
  • There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters.
  • The scene was turned over to Police for further investigation.

Saskatoon Fire Department recognizes November as Fall Prevention Month

November 4, 2021 - 8:00 am

One in three adults over the age of 65 will fall each year. By the time adults reach 85, the ratio becomes 1 in 2. In recognition of Fall Prevention Month, the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) will be focussing on its Remembering When program to raise awareness about fall prevention and fall related injuries in older adults.  

Remembering When is a National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) designed program that uses nostalgia to promote eight fire safety and eight fall prevention messages. The goal of the program is to help older adults eliminate fire and fall hazards so they can stay in their homes as long as they would like. Through the program, older adults are also taught what to do in the event of a fire and how to get up off the floor if they have fallen and are not hurt. 

Last year, SFD responded to 1150 lift assist requests. 

“Falls can be caused by a variety of factors and can happen anytime,” says Dori Krahn, Community Relations Coordinator for SFD. “Falls are also preventable. The Remembering When program allows us to connect with older adults, help them identify risks in their home, and provide them with resources to improve their fall prevention efforts. The purpose of the program is to ensure the safety of our older population and help them live healthy, active and independent lives.” 

SFD, in partnership with the Saskatoon Council on Aging (SCOA), uses follow-up phone calls, group presentations and home visits through the Remembering When program. This level of personalized fire and fall prevention ensures that each individual is receiving information that is relevant to their specific living situation and lifestyle. To book a home visit, please call: 306-975-7715. 

For more information about the Remembering program and fall prevention tips, visit saskatoon.ca/rememberingwhen. 

FI21-2640

City & partner agencies organize response to unhoused people in the community

November 1, 2021 - 4:50 pm

The Saskatoon Fire Department has this week implemented a proactive emergency operations centre (EOC) to manage life safety and health issues related to those experiencing homelessness with the immediate goal of offering emergency shelter to anyone who is living outdoors.

“We believe there are likely over a hundred people who are without proper shelter in Saskatoon – that is, sleeping in the open or in makeshift shelters – so, we want to help them find safe, healthy and appropriate emergency shelter,” says Assistant Fire Chief Yvonne Raymer.

Raymer says this work has been ongoing but as the weather begins to turn, the situation is growing more emergent. The partner agencies including the Sawêyihtotân (suh-WAY-uh-toe-tahn) community outreach team led by the Saskatoon Tribal Council, the Saskatoon Housing Initiative Partnership (SHIP), Salvation Army, Saskatoon Police Service, and other agencies are working together to achieve four main goals:

  • Identify the places or ‘camps’ where people are living in makeshift shelters
  • Delegate a task force group to the camps
  • Talk to the people who are unhoused to build trust
  • Offer wrap-around supports: food, mental health and addiction support, access to elders and counselling, COVID testing, and ultimately long-term housing

"This is about working together as a whole community to support people in accessing emergency shelter – we are working on keeping individuals safe and finding ways to best support them with emergency wrap-around resources within our capacity. Right now, though, we can’t in good conscience allow people to live in the elements as the weather continues to get colder.

"We have learned from experiences in other municipalities that when large encampments happen, those create greater health and safety risks. We have already been called to fires at makeshift shelters. So, of course, we want to find a way around that and help people with viable, dignified options and continue to offer them supports, even if at first they decline," Raymer says.

Community outreach workers who are part of a task force will be at the forefront of this work. The team will work together to connect with those who are houseless in the locations where they are currently finding shelter in parks, natural areas, along the riverbank and other areas in Saskatoon.

The Saskatoon Fire Department recognizes homelessness is a complex issue which requires a whole-community response and it will continue to actively engage all partners in a collaborative process going forward.

FI21-2634

Update: Apartment fire at Avenue P South results in loss of life

October 25, 2021 - 9:54 am

A fire investigator has identified improper disposal of smoking material as the cause of a fatal fire early this morning.  At 2:34 a.m. the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) received a report of a fire on the third floor of an apartment building at 202 Avenue P South. Four engines, a ladder truck, and a heavy rescue unit were dispatched.
 
Upon arriving, fire crews observed flames coming from a balcony on the third floor. The crew suspected an occupant was inside the burning suite. Firefighters advanced a hose line to apply water to the fire while another crew began clearing the building. Firefighters located and removed three occupants from the burning suite. Two occupants were transferred to the ambulance service for treatment. SFD Firefighter Paramedics completed a primary assessment to check the vital signs on the third occupant and determined the person was deceased.
 
The fire was contained to the one suite and was under control at 3:01 am. During the salvage and overhaul stage, crews ventilated the building of residual smoke and carbon monoxide.
 
SFD’s fire investigator determined the fire originated in the living room of the suite. There were no smoke alarms present inside the suite at the time of the fire. Damage is estimated at $50,000.
21-16459

Fatal fire in 200 Block Avenue P South

October 25, 2021 - 8:03 am
Incident Number:
21-16459
Date and Time Incident was Reported:
More Information:
  • A fire investigator is on scene to conduct an examination to identify the cause, origin and damage estimate.