Saskatoon Fire - News Releases

At approximately 12:49 p.m. on August 20, 2020, the Saskatoon Fire Department received a 911 call reporting a motor vehicle collision in the area of Faithfull Avenue and 42nd Street East. The caller reported a single vehicle to have struck a power pole, knocking down many live power lines. Two fire engines, one rescue unit, and one battalion chief were dispatched for response. 

Arriving on scene in about 20 seconds, firefighters located the vehicle involved and confirmed the power pole to have collapsed across it. A significant amount of transformer fluid was found to be leaking onto the ground. Fire dispatchers alerted multiple utility providers and an environmental clean-up company to attend the scene. The driver and lone occupant of the vehicle was medically assessed by firefighter-paramedics before being transported to hospital by ground ambulance for further evaluation of what are believed to be minor injuries. It is understood that the driver may have experienced a medical emergency prior to the collision.

A significant power outage has occurred as a result of this incident; utility technicians are currently working to restore the power in the affected area. Updates on the status of this outage are available at saskatoon.ca/service-alerts.

At around 4:40 p.m. on August 16, 2020, the Saskatoon Fire Department received a 911 call reporting the back of a residential structure to be on fire in the 300 block of Avenue R South. Four fire engines, one rescue unit, one aerial ladder truck, one fire investigation unit, and one battalion chief were committed to this incident. 

Arriving on scene in just over three minutes, firefighters found a fully involved residential structure with flames extending towards exposures at two adjacent properties; it was soon confirmed that one of these adjacent properties was also involved in fire. The commanding fire officer made an informed decision to deploy an aerosol fire suppression tool, otherwise referred to as a fire suppression grenade, into one of the involved structures to rapidly control the heat and spread of fire. Fire dispatchers contacted the appropriate utility technicians for attendance to address a compromised power pole and shut down utilities to the affected structures. Fire crews performed searches of the structures and confirmed there to be no occupants or pets inside. Both involved structures were boarded-up at the time of the fire. Firefighters ensured there was no further extension occurring before the fire was declared under control at approximately 6:07 p.m. 

There were no injuries to fire or civilian personnel as a result of this incident. A cause and damage estimate are not available at this time. 

The Saskatoon Fire Department has had aerosol fire suppression tools in select fire apparatus for about one year; in recent months, coverage of this equipment has been expanded into additional fire apparatus to continue protecting life and property in the City of Saskatoon and surrounding area.

At approximately 9:10 a.m. on August 16, 2020, the Saskatoon Fire Department received a 911 call reporting the passenger cabin of a semi unit on fire in the area of 71st Street East and Burron Avenue. The caller was unsure of the occupancy of the semi. Two fire engines, one rescue unit, and one battalion chief responded. 

Arriving on scene in about four minutes, fire crews located a fully involved semi unit and immediately began flowing a mixture of water and foam through a hose line to extinguish the flames. Firefighters forced entry into the passenger cabin and confirmed there to be no occupants inside. The commanding fire officer declared the loss to be stopped at around 9:33 a.m. 

The Saskatoon Police Service attended the scene to gather information and make contact with the operator as the semi unit was no longer able to be driven; the scene was left in their care prior to fire crews clearing the scene and returning to their stations. 

At approximately 5:39 p.m. on August 11, 2020, the Saskatoon Fire Department received a 911 call reporting persons in the South Saskatchewan River, holding onto logs in an area downstream of the University Bridge. One fire engine, one water rescue unit, one battalion chief were committed to this incident. 

Water Rescue One with three surface water technicians aboard was deployed onto the South Saskatchewan River from an emergency boat launch and proceeded to rescue an individual located 225 meters upstream from the buoys, then continued further downstream to retrieve the second person.  Neither individual were wearing life jackets.

The rescued adults, one male and one female, were brought to shore, assessed by firefighter/paramedics and after determining they sustained no injuries, were turned over to the Saskatoon Police Service.

The Saskatoon Fire Department encourages all river users to wear life jackets.

At 2:29 am the Saskatoon fire department began receiving 911 calls reporting a fire in the 500 block of Ave G South.  Three fire engines, one rescue unit, one aerial ladder truck, one fire investigation unit, and one battalion chief were dispatched for response.  The first fire crews were on scene 2 minutes and 45 seconds after leaving the fire station and observed flames between two houses.

Fire crews advanced a hose line to begin putting water on the fire and quickly suppressed further fire growth.

Fire damage was sustained to the exterior of the two occupied homes.  There were no injuries as a result of this fire and a fire investigator estimates damages at $3000, while the cause if the fire remains under investigation.