Saskatoon Fire - News Releases

Today, the Saskatoon Fire Department is proud to welcome five new firefighter-paramedics to begin serving the residents and visitors of Saskatoon and surrounding area.

“Each of the five probationary firefighter-paramedics have demonstrated the knowledge, character, and desire to serve that makes our department truly unique”, says Fire Chief Morgan Hackl. “This is a day to celebrate their accomplishment.”

All five of the firefighter-paramedics are certified to the level of Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) and are licensed through the Saskatchewan College of Paramedics. The Saskatoon Fire Department has committed to having every fire crew staffed with firefighter-paramedics who are trained, prepared, and experienced in operating on high-hazard emergency scenes.

As the second round of onboarding that has occurred in 2019, these firefighter-paramedics demonstrate the Saskatoon Fire Department’s commitment towards enhanced front-line emergency care and the investment that City Council continues to make in emergency services.

“The Saskatoon Fire Department’s ability to help residents and visitors of Saskatoon in a wide scope of emergencies makes our department a captivating and fulfilling place to work; it also makes our city a great place to live.” adds Hackl.

At approximately 9:58 this morning, the Saskatoon Fire Department received multiple 911 calls reporting a witnessed collision between a semi tractor-trailer and a passenger truck at the intersection of Faithfull Avenue and 60th Street East. Callers had reported to fire dispatchers that the driver and lone occupant of the passenger truck remained trapped inside the vehicle.

Two fire engines, one rescue unit, and one battalion chief were dispatched for immediate response.

Upon arrival of the first responding fire engine, firefighters confirmed that the semi tractor-trailer involved in the collision was not transporting any hazardous materials at the time of impact and verified that the operator did not require medical attention. Fire crews made contact with the trapped driver of the passenger truck, with firefighter-paramedics conducting a patient assessment and providing care inside of the heavily damaged vehicle. Fire crews began preparing the vehicle for the extrication process by cutting the power to the battery and securing the vehicle's position. Upon confirmation of patient stability, hydraulic rescue tools were used to remove the driver's door and free the patient from the entrapped position. The male driver was transported to hospital by ambulance with non-life-threatening injuries.

Fire crews performed fluid and debris cleanup prior to leaving the scene with the Saskatoon Police Service.

There were no injuries or exposures to fire department personnel as a result of this incident.

At approximately 4:15 pm Monday Nov. 18, 2019 The Saskatoon Fire Department received a 911 call reporting a possible house fire in the 600 block of Ave F. N.  Three engines, one aerial, one heavy rescue and one battalion chief responded to the structure fire.  Fire crews arrived and found a fire in a back room of a the home and crews were able to quickly extinguish the fire in seven minutes.  The home was search for any occupants but the home was vacant.  The fire created heavy smoke in the house, crews ventilated the home. 

A fire investigator was called to the scene, no damage estimate is available and no cause is determined at this time. 

There were no injuries reported as a result of this fire.

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The Saskatoon Fire Department responded a report of a fire in a duplex at 1819 ave D north, at approximately 2:33 pm today. Three Engine companies, one Ladder truck, one Rescue truck and a Battalion Chief were dispatched.

On arrival the first crew reported heavy smoke and flames coming from the side of the duplex, crews started a aggressive exterior attack with a fire hose, then entered the house to finish extinguishing the fire. It took approximately 20 minutes for the fire crews to bring the fire under control. Residents of 1819 had self evacuated prior to our arrival. Occupants at 1821 had to be evacuated by fire crews and police on scene.

There was extensive fire damage to the kitchen as well as heat and smoke damage to the rest of the duplex. Crews preformed overhaul searching for fire extension and none was found.

There were no injuries reported at this fire.

The fire is currently under investigation by Fire and Police investigators and is considered suspicious.  There is no damage estimate at this time.

For the first time since the notifynow emergency alert system was launched in 2014 an alert was issued city-wide to Saskatoon residents last night. The alert was issued at the request of Saskatoon Police to advise the public of the escape of two inmates, both considered to be violent, from the Regional Psychiatric Centre in the city’s northwest.

“This is the first time the target audience for a notifynow alert was the entire City of Saskatoon,” says Pamela Goulden-McLeod, Director of Emergency Management. “Last night, the request for a city-wide alert was made by Saskatoon Police and we were able to communicate that emergency message with over 55,000 contacts in a short period of time.”

notifynow provides timely, trusted and targeted public safety messages for incidents that require immediate attention by the public.

“There are a number of internal criteria that we consider when determining when and how we send out notifynow alerts to residents,” says Goulden-McLeod. “Saskatoon Police wanted to encourage residents to report any suspicious activity, so the decision was made to send the alert by email and text.”

notifynow messages help residents be better prepared and less vulnerable in the event of an emergency, be it city-wide or localized to one city-block. Residents are able to sign up using the method of communication they prefer to receive.

“We really encourage residents to create an account and provide their contact information for text, email and phone. We have roughly 272,000 people living in Saskatoon and only 25,000 who’ve gone in and signed up,” says Goulden-McLeod. “It’s also a good reminder to residents to check their profile on notifynow and make sure their information is up to date.”

The notifynow system is tested twice a year. The next notifynow test is Wednesday, December 4 at 10:00 a.m. To sign-up or to find out more about notifynow, visit Saskatoon.ca/notifynow or call 306-975-3210.

More than a firefighting service, the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) has been improving residents’ quality of life through emergency medical care for nearly 30 years.

SFD first introduced Emergency Medical Technicians in 1990, and now has over 140 Firefighter-Primary Care Paramedics providing emergency medical care throughout the city.

“We’re proud of our role as part of a primary care team of first responders, increasing the quality of life for residents and providing a level of service residents have come to expect,” says Len Protz, Battalion Chief. “With nine strategically located stations, we’re able to respond quickly when someone in our community requires urgent care.”

SFD received just over 14,000 calls to date this year, roughly 40 per cent requiring emergency medical care. In certain circumstances, the firefighter-paramedics are able to perform lifesaving interventions, which includes the administration of medications.

Yearly statistical comparisons:

“SFD provides emergency response and protection for nearly 42 billion dollars’ worth of physical assets, but what that doesn’t include is our people,” says Protz. “We’re continuously looking at ways we can improve the services we provide to citizens, keeping their safety and wellness at the forefront.”

Treatment and medications administered by firefighter-paramedics have expanded over the past thirty years. Notably, the introduction of the automated external defibrillator (AED) in the mid-90s and Naloxone, an important drug used to combat the opioid overdose crisis, in January 2017.

Other medications administered by firefighter-paramedics include: Dextrose for hypoglycemic diabetic emergencies, Epinephrine (Adrenaline) for severe allergic reactions, and Atrovent and Salbutamol (bronchodilators) used for persons in severe respiratory distress.

Most recently, in conjunction with the Saskatchewan College of Paramedics protocols, the SFD added Penthrox, a non-opioid gaseous analgesic used for pain relief, to be able to treat persons experiencing moderate to severe pain associated with trauma.

Building and upgrading skills has also been a focus over the years. On January 1, 2018, SFD made the transition from Emergency Medical Technicians to Primary Care Paramedics (2011 National Occupancy Competency Profile) with nearly half of SFD’s operational staff registered with the Saskatchewan College of Paramedics.  In addition, more than 50 staff who were previously Primary Care Paramedics or Emergency Medical Technicians are now Registered Medical First Responders, a further upgrade of skills and lifesaving abilities available within the Department.

Through continued working relationships with the International Association of Firefighters Local 80, Saskatchewan Health Authority, Medavie Health Services West and the Saskatoon Police Service, SFD works toward the common goal of community service in saving lives and serving the citizens of our community.

The Saskatoon Fire Department’s emergency medical services further the City’s Strategic Goal of Quality of Life for Citizens in prioritizing the safety of the entire community.

At approximately 9:10 this morning, the Saskatoon Fire Department received a 911 call reporting a motor vehicle collision at the intersection of 58th Street East and Miners Avenue. The caller reported a collision between a semi tractor-trailer and a car with the possibility of the car's lone occupant being trapped inside.

Two fire engines, one rescue unit, and one battalion chief were dispatched for response.

Upon arrival of the first responding fire engine, the entrapment of a middle-aged male driver in a Chevrolet Cruze was confirmed. The patient was observed in stable condition with firefighter-paramedics performing a medical assessment and providing care inside the damaged vehicle. Firefighters prepared the vehicle for the extrication process by stabilizing it and disconnecting the battery; the driver's door was cut from the vehicle using hydraulic rescue tools, freeing the trapped patient.

The patient was transported to hospital by ambulance in stable condition. Fire crews performed a clean-up of the scattered debris before concluding on scene. The scene was left with the Saskatoon Police Service.

There were no injuries or exposures to fire department personnel as a result of this incident.

At approximately 11:22 this morning, the Saskatoon Fire Department and Emergency Management Organization were alerted by the Saskatoon Police Service to a suspicious substance found in a mail processing facility located at 115 Avenue H South.

One fire engine, one haz-mat unit, one decontamination unit, one mobile command unit, and one battalion chief were dispatched for immediate response. 

Upon arrival of the first responding fire engine, two employees of the facility that had come into contact with the substance were placed into isolation and the facility was evacuated and secured. The Emergency Management Organization notified the Saskatoon Public Schools Division and brought a representative on site to ensure operations with a nearby school were not affected. On arrival of the haz-mat unit and decontamination unit, a plan was established and crews prepared for entry to the facility; haz-mat crews performed tests of the substance involved and quickly confirmed it to be non-hazardous.

The Saskatoon Police Service restricted traffic in the area for the duration of this incident. The Saskatoon Fire Department and the Emergency Management Organization have concluded on scene and the facility has been turned back over to management.

There were no injuries reported as a result of this incident and there is no risk to public safety. 

At approximately 8:51 this morning, the Saskatoon Fire Department and Emergency Management Organization were alerted by the Saskatoon Police Service to a suspicious package containing an unknown substance in a commercial retail warehouse located at 225 Betts Avenue.

One fire engine, one haz-mat unit, one decontamination unit, one mobile command unit, and one battalion chief were dispatched for immediate response.

Upon arrival, fire crews confirmed incident details and placed two employees and two police officers into isolation as a precaution. The affected area was confined to the back shipping and receiving room; the Saskatoon Police Service restricted entry to the building and all customers who had been shopping at the time were instructed to shelter in place.

Available information had indicated the possibility of a hazardous substance within the package. Haz-mat crews prepared for entry and began conducting tests of the unknown substance. All tests produced negative results and were confirmed to be non-hazardous. The individuals who had been placed into isolation were released and all customers were permitted to exit the building.

There were no injuries reported as a result of this incident and there is no risk to public safety.

The Saskatoon Fire Department and the Emergency Management Organization have concluded on scene and this incident has been left with the Saskatoon Police Service. 

On Tuesday Nov. 5th, 2019 at approximately 9:12 p.m. the Saskatoon Fire Department received multiple 911 calls reporting a structure fire in the 900 blk of Central Ave.  Callers reported smoke coming from a fireworks business.  A total of 5 engines, 1 heavy rescue, 1 aerial ladder, a battalion chief and a fire investigator responded through out the duration of the incident.  Initial arriving crews found smoke coming from the roof and front of the building.  Crews made on offensive interior attack in an attempt to locate the seat of the fire.  Once crews were inside they encountered heavy smoke and reported zero visibility and had to deal with the fireworks exploding all around them.  The building gas and power were disconnected as a precaution.  Police blocked off the streets around the fire scene and neighbouring businesses were also evacuated.  The stubborn fire was under control in 2 hrs and 19 minutes. 

A fire investigator is currently on scene trying to determine a cause.  At this time no damage estimate is available.

There were no injuries as a result of this fire.