Saskatoon Fire - News Releases

At approximately 9:02 p.m. on June 29, 2020, the Saskatoon Fire Department was alerted to a motor vehicle collision in the area of Highway 11 and Grasswood Road; it was reported that a single vehicle had rolled and that at least one occupant was ejected from the vehicle. Two fire engines, one rescue unit, and one battalion chief were dispatched for immediate response.

Upon arrival, firefighters located a Pontiac sedan that had struck a light standard prior to rolling. Two adults, an infant, and a three year-old child were all out of the damaged vehicle prior to the arrival of fire crews; the three year-old child had been ejected from the vehicle during the rollover while the remaining three occupants self-evacuated the vehicle afterwards. All occupants were alert when transported to hospital by ambulance; their current conditions and severity of injuries is not known at this time. Traffic was temporarily restricted in the area while emergency personnel worked on scene.

Fire dispatchers contacted the appropriate utility technicians for repair of the light standard and damaged wires; the Royal Canadian Mounted Police remained on scene until this work was started. Firefighters cleared the scene and returned to their stations at around 9:41 p.m.

At approximately 4:05 a.m. on June 28, 2020, the Saskatoon Fire Department received a single 911 call reporting a vehicle on fire in the 400 block of Avenue U South. One fire engine and one fire investigation unit were dispatched for response.

Arriving on scene in about four minutes, firefighters located two small fires burning on the outside of a vehicle. Using the fire engine's on-board water supply, fire crews extinguished both fires within minutes of arrival. This fire presented as suspicious and was later confirmed to be incendiary. A fire investigator has estimated the damage to be approximately $2,500.

Non-emergent suspicious activity can be reported by calling 306-975-8300. In an emergency, call 911 immediately. 

On June 28, 2020 at around 12:48 p.m., the Saskatoon Fire Department initiated response to a condominium building in the 100 block of Willis Crescent after receiving notification from an alarm company that the monitored fire alarm was sounding. While firefighters were en-route, fire dispatchers processed another call for a water concern at the same address. One fire engine and one aerial ladder truck responded.

Upon arrival, firefighters found water flowing and smoke exiting from a unit inside the building. Fire crews breached the door and made entry into the unit to find that the building's sprinkler system had suppressed a fire in the kitchen. While conducting a search of the unit, one cat was located and removed by firefighters; the animal did not appear to be in distress when rescued. All occupants of the building had self-evacuated prior to the arrival of fire crews and no injuries were sustained. 

A fire investigation unit was later dispatched to the scene; the fire investigator has identified the fire to be accidental and to have originated in the kitchen. Damage has been estimated at approximately $100,000.

At approximately 1:36 p.m. on June 27, 2020, the Saskatoon Fire Department received multiple 911 calls reporting a possible structure fire in the 100 block of Stechishin Crescent. Three fire engines, one rescue unit, one aerial ladder truck, one fire investigation unit, and one battalion chief were dispatched for response. 

In less than four minutes, firefighters arrived on scene to find a residential structure producing visible smoke; all occupants were confirmed to have been outside and uninjured. An immediate interior attack was initiated with fire crews locating and extinguishing a fire in the basement; at around 2:16 p.m. the fire was considered to be under control. There was no further extension of the fire beyond the basement. Ventilation was established to clear the structure of remaining smoke and carbon monoxide before firefighters concluded and turned the scene over to a fire investigator. 

The fire investigator is continuing to analyze the scene to identify a cause and origin. Damage has been estimated at approximately $150,000.

At approximately 12:13 a.m. on June 28, 2020, the Saskatoon Fire Department received a 911 call from an employee of a fast food restaurant in the 900 block of 51st Street East reporting a commercial kitchen appliance on fire. Three fire engines, one rescue unit, one aerial ladder truck, one fire investigation unit, and one battalion chief responded.

Fire crews arrived on scene in less than four minutes to find all occupants self-evacuating; it was reported that attempts by staff members to extinguish the fire were unsuccessful. Firefighters ensured utilities servicing the appliance were shut down before using a dry chemical fire extinguisher and the building's automatic extinguishing system to fully extinguish the fire; the commanding fire officer considered the loss to be stopped at around 12:44 a.m.. Fire crews established a laddered connection to the building's roof to search for possible extension of the fire; with no extension found, firefighters turned the building over to a fire investigator and returned to their stations.

A fire investigator has confirmed the fire to have been an accidental grease fire that originated inside of a commercial deep fryer. Damage has been estimated at approximately $10,000. 

At approximately 3:18 a.m. on June 29, 2020, the Saskatoon Fire Department was alerted to a motor vehicle collision at Idylwyld Drive North and Highway 16; it was reported that a single vehicle had rolled, trapping an occupant inside. Two fire engines, one rescue unit, and one battalion chief were dispatched for response.

Firefighters arrived in about four minutes and immediately began work to stabilize and de-energize a Hyundai SUV; of the vehicle's two occupants, one middle-aged female had self-evacuated prior to the arrival of fire crews and one middle-aged male was confirmed to be trapped inside with critical injuries. The trapped occupant was medically assessed and treated by firefighter-paramedics inside of the heavily damaged vehicle as additional fire crews cut an opening into the passenger side to gain better access.

Both occupants were accompanied by firefighter-paramedics en-route to the hospital; the female driver with undetermined injuries and the male passenger with critical, life-threatening injuries. The scene was preserved and left for the Saskatoon Police Service's Collision Analyst Unit to investigate further. 

Firefighters cleared the scene at around 4:00 a.m. and returned to their stations to continue serving Saskatoon.

At approximately 8:31 p.m. on June 23, 2020, the Saskatoon Fire Department received multiple 911 calls reporting a grass fire in the area of the Wastewater Treatment Plant, located in the 400 block of Whiteswan Drive. One fire engine, one water tanker, one brush truck, one fire investigation unit, and one battalion chief responded. Callers had reported the smoke to be continuously getting worse.

Firefighters first responded to the east end of Adilman Drive to obtain visual confirmation of where the fire was burning; upon completion of that assessment, response was continued into the Wastewater Treatment Plant to position equipment and personnel closer to the location of the fire. Fire crews worked to extinguish the fire along the riverbank until the commanding fire officer declared the fire to be under control at around 8:47 p.m.; firefighters then continued to soak down the area and extinguish hot spots until the loss was considered stopped. There was no imminent risk of extension to nearby structures and no injuries were reported as a result of this incident.

A fire investigator searched the area for a possible source of ignition; however, the investigative findings remained inconclusive. This was the second day in a row that a grass fire was extinguished in this same area.

At approximately 7:39 p.m. on June 22, 2020, the Saskatoon Fire Department received a single 911 call reporting a possible structure fire in the 200 block of East Place. 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 engine arrived on scene in about three minutes to find the exterior cedar siding and cedar roof shakes of a large residential house to have recently been on fire; upon further evaluation, it was determined that a contractor who had been building a fence on-site noticed the fire and extinguished it using buckets of water and a garden hose. Firefighters conducted overhaul efforts and searched for extension prior to returning to their stations to continue serving Saskatoon. There were no injuries to the fire or civilian personnel on scene as a result of this incident.

While examining the fire scene and components of an exterior outlet, a fire investigator has confirmed the fire to be accidental with the cause being electrical in nature. Damage has been estimated at approximately $20,000. The fire is not believed to be related to the work being completed by the contractor that had been on-site.

At approximately 1:12 p.m. on June 22, 2020, the Saskatoon Fire Department received multiple 911 calls reporting a grass fire along the riverbank near the Silverwood Heights neighbourhood. One fire engine, one brush truck, and one battalion chief responded; all responding fire apparatus attended to the east end of Adilman Drive to establish a fire attack strategy.

Fire crews connected to the closest hydrant as firefighters continued off-road in the brush truck towards the riverbank. A small but growing fire was located near the fence line of the Wastewater Treatment Plant. The fire was brought under control at around 1:49 p.m., with fire crews continuing to extinguish hot spots for some time thereafter. There were no injuries reported and no structures were at risk as a result of this fire. It is unknown how the fire might have started. 

Fire crews have since cleared the scene, returning to their stations to continue serving Saskatoon.

The investigation into a fire that occurred in an apartment building in the 100 block of Edinburgh Place on June 21, 2020 has concluded.

While conducting the investigation, two deceased animals were located inside the unit of origin; the SPCA attended the scene on June 22, 2020 to remove and take control of the bodies of one cat and one large dog. A fire investigator has confirmed the fire to be accidental; however, an exact cause will not be available. Damage has been estimated at approximately $600,000. The building has been deemed uninhabitable until remediation occurs; a fire inspector will continue to work with the property owner to monitor the progress of repairs.

The Saskatoon Fire Department wishes to thank the Saskatoon Police Service for their assistance in escorting tenants back to their units to gather personal belongings prior to the building closure.

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At approximately 7:49 p.m. on June 21, 2020, the Saskatoon Fire Department received multiple 911 calls reporting an apartment building on fire in the 100 block of Edinburgh Place. Three fire engines, one rescue unit, one aerial ladder truck, one fire investigation unit, and one battalion chief were dispatched for response. 

Upon arrival, visible smoke and flame were observed to be exiting the building; all occupants had self-evacuated. Firefighters immediately connected to nearby hydrants and made entry into the building. A fire was located inside a fourth floor unit and was quickly brought under control; the commanding fire officer confirmed the loss to be stopped at around 8:24 p.m. While performing searches of the building, one cat was located and removed from a second floor unit; the animal did not appear to be in distress. The Saskatoon Police Service had traffic restrictions in place for the duration of this incident to allow space for fire crews to operate and to keep civilian members of the public safe. 

A fire investigator is on scene working to determine a cause and assess the damage. An update will be provided upon conclusion of the investigative findings.