Saskatoon Fire - News Releases

Please disregard the first photo named 31st St W - it is not from the Fire at this incident and was uploaded incorrectly.  

At 1:14 a.m. on December 3, 2023, the Saskatoon Fire Department Communications Center received a report of a structure fire in the 3100 block of 37th Street West with someone unable to evacuate from the backyard.  Three fire engines, one ladder truck, one rescue unit and the Battalion Chief were dispatched.  First arriving fire crew at 1:19 a.m. reported fully involved structure.  Unable to enter rear of property due to extent of fire upon arrival.  Incoming fire apparatus were assigned their tactical duties.  Neighboring houses were confirmed to be evacuated.  Occupant in the backyard was able to be brought to the front of the property.  Police on scene reported the structure on fire had no occupants inside.  Utilities were shut down for safety on the fire ground.  Fire Investigator was requested.

Fire crews brought the fire under control at 1:58 a.m.   Fire crews completed full extinguishment and packing up of tools at 3:14 a.m.  Fire scene was turned over to the Fire Investigator.

No injuries to civilians or firefighters resulted from this fire.  

Fire Investigation was not able to be performed due to structural instability of the area of origin.  Fire originated in the interior of the attached garage of the single family dwelling unit.  Damage from this fire is estimated at $450,000.

Our partners at Saskatoon Police Service are continuing their portion of the fire investigation.  Cause of the fire is undetermined at this time.

The property is being secured by fencing at this time.  

At the City Council Regular Business Meeting on November 22, 2023, City Council approved the proposed update to Bylaw No. 7990, The Fire and Protective Services Bylaw, 2001. The amendments enhance the minimum standards for carbon monoxide (CO) alarms to be in alignment with provincial legislation and the National Fire Code. 

CO is an odourless, colourless, tasteless, deadly gas created by burning fuels such as gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane and oil. Elevated levels of carbon monoxide can cause illness or death before people even know it is there. 

“This update to Bylaw No. 7990 is a preventative measure that will help save lives,” says Assistant Chief Yvonne Raymer. “While a bylaw will help our Fire Inspectors address compliance, our enforcement approach will always prioritize education and collaboration as our primary courses of action.” 

To comply with the amended Bylaw, residents should make sure their smoke and CO alarms are: 

• Installed within five metres (16 feet) of a sleeping room and within rooms where there is a fuel-fired appliance such as a natural gas stove, fireplace, furnace or water heater. 
• Connected to a continuous source of power either from batteries or electricity. 
• Inspected at least every three months for alkaline battery-operated alarms and at least 12 months for lithium and hard-wired alarms. 
• Not tampered with, disconnected or removed. 

For additional information about CO safety, visit saskatoon.ca/carbonmonoxide. 

At 10:41 p.m. on October 7, 2022, the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) Communications Center received a call for a motor vehicle accident involving a semi and an SUV with possible entrapment.  Two fire engines, one rescue unit and the Battalion Chief were dispatched.  The first fire crew arrived at 10:45 p.m. and confirmed air bags deployed and patients trapped in the vehicle.  The driver's side door required removal with hydraulic tools.  Two patients were in the vehicle, a driver and a front passenger.  The passenger door was able to be pried opened by firefighters without tools.  Fire crews removed a female patient from the passenger side of the vehicle and began providing immediate medical care.  The other fire crews were preparing for the removal of the driver door to extricate the driver.  At 10:54 p.m., the door was removed and firefighters began immediate medical care on a male.  

Medical care of both patients was transferred to the ambulance service and their crews.  Three SFD primary care paramedics rode in the ambulances to the hospital to assist the ambulance crews with patient care.  Our firefighters were picked up at the hospital and returned to their fire stations.  Current status of the patients is not known to the SFD.

The Saskatoon Police Service continue their accident investigation.

Fire crews were requested and responded at 7:55 a.m. on October 8, 2022 back to the site of the accident by the Saskatoon Police Service.  Firefighters cleaned up fluids that had leaked onto the street.

The Saskatoon Fire Department employs 280 firefighters of which 140 are primary care paramedics. 

At 4:01 p.m. on October 5, 2022, the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) received a report of a grass fire in the area of Wanuskewin Road and Penner Road.   One fire engine, two brush trucks, two tanker trucks and the Battalion Chief responded to the grass fire.  The first arriving fire crew reported no structures at risk of exposure to the fire.  All incoming fire crews were assigned their duties.  SFD remains on scene at this time.  The grass fire  continues to be extinguished and brought under control. 

An SFD Fire Investigator will not be attending.  The grass fire is outside Saskatoon's city limits.

At 12:57 p.m., on September 30, 2022, the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) received a call for a female hanging off the overpass on Taylor Street over Circle Drive.  Dispatched were one fire engine, one ladder truck, one rescue unit and the Battalion Chief.  First arriving crew at 1:01 p.m. reported a female hanging over the freeway requiring rescue.  Incoming fire crews were assigned their duties on their arrival.  At 1:05 p.m., the ladder truck, SFD's Ladder 8 set up and got in position to rescue the female.  A firefighter entered the area and was secured to the chain link fence to reduce the risk of the female falling .  Police on scene stopped traffic to create a safe working space for the fire crews and motorists.  Firefighters maintained verbal contact with the female while a firefighter was secured in the basket of the ladder truck and got positioned close to the female.  When the female attempted to move away from the ladder truck, the firefighter secured to the fence pinned himself and the female to the chain link so the ladder truck could position under them and bring the female into the bucket.  

The female was brought down safely to the ground without incident at 1:11 p.m.   The scene and the female were turned over to the Saskatoon Police Service.  Our partners at City of Saskatoon were notified that firefighters had cut the chain link fence to allow access.  Repairs to the fence will be followed up. 

No injuries to the female, motorists, firefighters or police occurred as a result of this rescue.

At 5:45 a.m., on September 30, 2022, the Saskatoon Fire Department received an automatic alert from the ambulance service of a male trapped in the bin of a garbage truck.  One fire engine and the Battalion Chief responded to the 200 block of 1st Avenue South.  On arrival, fire crews identified an unknown age male, inside the bin of an automated garbage truck.  The male was not injured but needed assistance out of the bin.  At 6:06 a.m., the SFD fire crews assisted the person out of the bin.  No automatic tools were required.  It is unknown if the person was unhoused or searching the bin for recyclables.  

The driver had been alerted to the person in the bin by hearing him yell out.  Driver stopped and identified a person in the bin on the truck's camera.

The male was turned over to the ambulance service for an assessment.  Fire crew returned to their station.

Fire Chief Morgan Hackl and other fire officials will welcome five new firefighter-paramedics to the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) at a private graduation ceremony this afternoon. The ceremony will take place at Fire Station No. 1 where the recruits will be presented with their badges and battalion assignments.

The five firefighter-paramedics are the second graduating group this year, following 15 recruits that were hired in April. Each graduate is certified to the level of Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) and is licensed through the Saskatchewan College of Paramedics. As firefighter-paramedics, they are trained, prepared, and experienced in operating effectively on high-hazard emergency scenes. The graduates’ impressive qualifications are reflective of SFD’s commitment to hiring applicants with a broad spectrum of knowledge and experience.

“Our fire department responds to nearly 20,000 calls annually,” says Chief Hackl. “With high call volumes come high expectations. These recruits have rose to the challenge and proven they are ready to provide the best front-line emergency care possible.”

The graduates have worked with SFD’s Fire Service Instructors over the past four weeks to review their firefighter and paramedic skills and prepare them for their new role at the SFD.

“We’re excited to welcome these graduates to our fire service watch them thrive as official members of the Saskatoon Fire Department,” Chief Hackl adds.

The new firefighter-paramedics will start their first shifts beginning Monday, October 3.

At 6:50 a.m. on September 29, 2022, the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) received a report of a structure fire at Highway 14 and Dalmeny Grid.  Two fire engines, one brush truck, one tanker unit, one rescue unit and the Battalion Chief were dispatched.  First arriving fire crews reported flames coming from metal doors of a structure.  Incoming crews were assigned their tactical duties.  At 7:22 a.m., the main portion of the fire was knocked down.  Fire crews remain on scene at this time.

This fire is within Saskatoon's city limits.  An SFD Fire Investigator has been requested to attend.

Details will follow once they are available.