News Releases
Saskatoon Fire - News Releases
Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Days Return
August 31, 2023 - 9:30am
- September 3, 2023 (9:00 am - 3:30 pm)
- September 17, 2023 (9:00 am - 3:30 pm)
- October 1, 2023 (9:00 am - 3:30 pm)
- October 15, 2023 (9:00 am - 3:30 pm)
- October 29, 2023 (9:00 am - 3:30 pm)
- Containers used for transporting HHW may not be returned to the participants.
- Please ensure all containers are safely sealed and contents are clearly marked.
- To avoid potentially long line-ups and wait times, ask the Waste Wizard at saskatoon.ca/wastewizard to find other means of recycling and safe disposal.
- Help reduce emissions from idling and protect the health of other residents by turning off vehicles during long wait times.
- There are no public washrooms available at the event.
The City of Saskatoon and QM Environmental will host the first Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Drop-off Day of the year this Sunday, September 3.
HHW Drop-Off Dates:
Location: Civic Operations Centre (57 Valley Road)
Saskatoon residents are invited to drop off their HHW materials for recycling and safe disposal, including aerosols, automotive fluids, batteries, cleaners, cylinders, light bulbs, medications, yard chemicals, vaping products, and more. Complete lists of acceptable and unacceptable items are available at saskatoon.ca/hazardouswaste.
Reminders:
Thanks for helping us put waste in the right place!
Celebrating Labour Day with fireworks
August 31, 2023 - 9:00am
- Carefully read and follow the manufacturer instructions.
- Exercise increased caution when handling and discharging any type of firework.
- Choose your location wisely. Fireworks can only be discharged on private property.
- Familiarize yourself with the space requirements for the type of firework being discharged. Requirements vary depending on the firework type.
- Ensure your location is free of overhead obstructions, is clear side-to-side and is a safe distance from combustible materials.
- Ensure that it is not windy and that all spectators are safely located to observe the display.
- Be sure to properly stabilize the firework according to manufacturer direction.
- Other than sparklers, never light or hold a lit firework in your hand.
- Always light the fuse at its tip.
- Never try to relight or fix the fuse on fireworks that did not go off.
- Have a supply of water available and use it to extinguish debris or smouldering embers before they cause injuries, property damage and/or fires.
- Keep in mind that you are solely responsible for any debris that may land on spectators or another’s property.
The Saskatoon Fire Department would like to remind residents and visitors of safe practices for purchasing, enjoying and disposing of fireworks. This Labour Day, low-hazard fireworks can only be discharged on private property between the hours of dusk and 11:00 p.m. on Monday, September 4.
Low-hazard fireworks are designed for public recreational use. These fireworks travel less than 50m (160ft) high and include items such as roman candles, sparklers, fountains, wheels, volcanoes, mines and snakes.
High-hazard fireworks are designed for professionals and can only be purchased by persons holding a valid Fireworks Supervisor – Level I or Level II card issued by Natural Resources Canada.
Residents and spectators are reminded of the risks and obligations associated with fireworks:
For more information about fireworks safety, please visit saskatoon.ca/fireworks.
The Saskatoon Fire Department wishes everyone a safe and enjoyable Labour Day weekend!
Lane restrictions at 23rd Steet East for confined space rescue practice
August 31, 2023 - 8:00am
- Don't put garbage or needles down grates or manholes as they cause a danger to SL&P workers.
- For your safety, stay clear of the area when utility workers are working in the area. Sidewalk closures can be a pain, and we apologize for the inconvenience.
Saskatoon Light & Power and Saskatoon Fire Department will be practicing confined space rescue in the electrical vault located on 23rd Street East beside Crestview Auto Service over the next two weeks. These drills are performed to ensure worker and public safety in the event of a true emergency.
Rescue practice sessions will be held on September 1, 8, 13, and 14 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. daily.
There will be lane restrictions in place to ensure safety and guide motorists around the work zone. Pedestrians are asked to avoid the area for their own safety.
There are over 20 electrical vaults in the downtown area of Saskatoon that are designed to hold the equipment needed to power the city’s downtown core. The grates and concrete covering the vaults are constructed for people and equipment to be able to walk or drive over.
Tips for general vault safety:
Report summarizes successes, lessons learned from City’s first activation of emergency response plan for extreme snowfalls
August 31, 2023 - 7:30am
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102,000 truckloads of snow removed from Saskatoon streets..
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1.4 million cubic metres of snow stored at the three snow management facilities at the Civic Operations Centre, along Wanuskewin Drive and Central Avenue. This is approximately four times the amount of snow stored at the snow management facilities in years leading up to 2020.
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500 crew days of effort to remove snow piles on local streets.
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A typical day during snow removal included 150 haul trucks, 32 graders, 18 loaders, 4 snow blowers, 12 skid steers, 10 pilot trucks, seven dozers, 11 tow trucks and much more light equipment.
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27 contracting companies provided additional resources including haul trucks, loaders, snow blowers, dozers and graders. Nearly all contractors that submitted interest and pricing for local street snow removal were hired.
An information report to be presented to City Council’s Standing Policy Committee on Transportation on September 5 details how the City successfully navigated an extraordinary emergency snow event in December 2022 with an equally extraordinary response.
The City’s Roadways Emergency Response Plan for Extreme or Unusual Snow Events was activated for the very first time on December 28, 2022, after back-to-back snow events between December 25 and 28. The snowfall resulted in over 30 centimetres of snow accumulation and severely impacted mobility on streets and sidewalks. This was in addition to four previous snow events earlier in the winter season.
Once the response plan was activated, snow grading along all streets in Saskatoon was completed within eight days of the end of snowfall, faster than the targeted timeline of 10 days, while snow removal along Priority 2 and 3 streets was completed within 5 weeks– the fastest this work has ever been completed. All snow removal work was completed within approximately 9 weeks.
“Our response to the late 2022 snowfall showcased our commitment to the safety and the well-being of our residents,” says Goran Saric, Director of Roadways, Fleet and Support. “The City of Saskatoon remains steadfast in its dedication to providing efficient services while adapting and improving to better serve its citizens.”
Highlights from 2022/23 ERP activation include:
“The successful handling of the significant snow events stands as a testament to the City’s commitment to meeting challenges head-on, learning from experiences and continuously improving its emergency response capabilities,” says Saric.
The total cost of the 2022/23 emergency snow response was $18 million dollars, more than the annual operating budget for Snow and Ice Management. Nearly 90% of the cost was for the city-wide snow removal phase.
For more information on the Roadways Emergency Response Plan for Extreme or Unusual Snow Events, visit saskatoon.ca/emergency-response-plan.
Intersection at 4th Avenue and 21st Street closed on Thursday
August 30, 2023 - 5:00pm
The intersection at 4th Avenue and 21st Street will be closed on Thursday, August 31, at 8:00 a.m. for emergency sanitary main repairs. Detours will be in place guiding motorists around the work zone. This project is expected to take one day to complete, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.
Saskatoon Transit may be affected by these detours. Transit service alerts and real-time bus information are available on third-party apps like Transit and Google Maps Transit on desktop.
For more information about current road restrictions and construction, visit saskatoon.ca/construction.