Saskatoon Fire - News Releases

After an in-depth cause and origin examination of the scene, a fire investigator has identified the fire that occurred in the 700 block of Weldon Avenue on August 28, 2020 to be incendiary. Damage has been estimated at about $30,000.

In conduction of the scene examination, deficiencies with the smoke alarms throughout the residential structure were noted. The Fire Prevention & Investigation section is reminding members of the public of the importance in having operable smoke and carbon monoxide alarms; test these alarms monthly, changing the batteries annually or when the alarm begins to sound intermittently, and replace the entire alarm on or before the expiry date printed on the label.

The Saskatoon Fire Department has involved the Saskatoon Police Service on this incident.

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At approximately 3:23 p.m. on August 28, 2020, the Saskatoon Fire Department received multiple 911 calls reporting dark smoke exiting the basement area of a residential structure in the 700 block of Weldon Avenue. Three fire engines, one rescue unit, one aerial ladder truck, one fire investigation unit, and one battalion chief responded to the scene. 

Firefighters arrived to find heavy black smoke and a significant amount of heat being produced from the basement of the structure; immediately deploying hose lines and connecting to nearby hydrants, fire crews softened the fire from the exterior prior to making entry to continue full extinguishment from the interior. Firefighters shut down utilities to the structure as fire dispatchers requested the attendance of utility technicians on scene. There were no occupants, pets, or further extension of the fire located during multiple searches of the structure. 

A fire investigator is beginning work to identify a cause and assess the damage; firefighters have since concluded their work on scene and are returning to their stations to continue proudly serving Saskatoon and surrounding area. 

At approximately 3:23 p.m. on August 28, 2020, the Saskatoon Fire Department received multiple 911 calls reporting dark smoke exiting the basement area of a residential structure in the 700 block of Weldon Avenue. Three fire engines, one rescue unit, one aerial ladder truck, one fire investigation unit, and one battalion chief responded to the scene. 

Firefighters arrived to find heavy black smoke and a significant amount of heat being produced from the basement of the structure; immediately deploying hose lines and connecting to nearby hydrants, fire crews softened the fire from the exterior prior to making entry to continue full extinguishment from the interior. Firefighters shut down utilities to the structure as fire dispatchers requested the attendance of utility technicians on scene. There were no occupants, pets, or further extension of the fire located during multiple searches of the structure. 

A fire investigator is beginning work to identify a cause and assess the damage; firefighters have since concluded their work on scene and are returning to their stations to continue proudly serving Saskatoon and surrounding area. 

At around 1:37 p.m. on August 27, 2020, the Saskatoon Fire Department received a 911 call reporting an oven on fire in one of the units within a multi-unit apartment building. Three fire engines, one rescue unit, one aerial ladder truck, and one battalion chief were dispatched for response.

Arriving on scene in less than three minutes, firefighters located an extinguished fire that had been contained to the oven; it was reported that a neighbouring occupant in the apartment building used a fire extinguisher to successfully put out the fire prior ot the arrival of fire crews. Firefighters confirmed there to be no further extension beyond the oven; they then established ventilation to clear the building of remaining smoke and minimal levels of carbon monoxide.

Fire crews left the scene with a building manager and have since returned to their stations to continue serving Saskatoon and area. 

At about 9:02 p.m. on August 25, 2020, the Saskatoon Fire Department received a 911 call reporting garbage on fire in an alley along 4th Avenue North. One fire engine was initially dispatched to extinguish the small fire. Upon arriving on scene, the commanding fire officer noted smoke exiting a structure in the 100 block of 4th Avenue North and upgraded the response to include an additional two fire engines, one rescue unit, one aerial ladder truck, one fire investigation unit, and one battalion chief. 

Firefighters breached entry to the structure, quickly locating and extinguishing an interior fire using a mixture of water and foam. Smoke was ventilated from the structure and searches were conducted to ensure vacancy prior to firefighters concluding on scene. No significant extension of the fire occurred and there were no injuries to fire or civilian personnel reported as a result of this incident. 

A fire investigator is conducting a scene examination to identify the cause and origin of this fire. A damage estimate is not yet available. 

At approximately 4:03 p.m. on August 25, 2020, the Saskatoon Fire Department received notification through the Sask911 Prince Albert Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) of a mutual aid request in the Pike Lake, Saskatchewan area for reports of a missing child near the water. Two water rescue units and one battalion chief were dispatched from the Saskatoon Fire Department's fleet of apparatus.

Water rescue crews arrived on scene to find a nine year-old male patient unresponsive on the shoreline; he was being attended to by paramedics and police. It is understood that the child was not wearing a lifejacket or PFD when he was removed from the water. Alongside first responders from partner agencies, firefighter-paramedics assisted in conducting cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) as STARS Air Ambulance prepared for transport of the patient to a hospital in Saskatoon; he was transported in critical condition at around 4:53 p.m.. 

The Saskatoon Fire Department would like to acknowledge the collaborative response to this incident that included Medavie Health Services West, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, STARS Air Ambulance, Delisle & District Fire Department, and the Saskatchewan Provincial Parks staff.