SASKATOON — The Saskatoon Fire Department received a report at 6:02 a.m. of a fire on the first floor of an apartment building at 1020 Matheson Drive. Three engine trucks, a rescue and ladder trucks, and the Battalion Chief were dispatched to the scene.
Fire crews, upon arriving, observed smoke coming from the apartment building’s main door and also a lower-level suite window. Occupants of the building were also seen evacuating.
Fire crews proceeded with an interior attack and advanced a hose line to apply water to the fire. Firefighters confirmed a small fire in the bedroom of the first-floor suite.
Firefighters located the main source of the fire in a closet and extinguished the flames. Meanwhile, another crew continued to assist occupants who were not able to initially self-evacuate.
One occupant from the burned suite was assessed and treated by the ambulance service. The Saskatoon Police Service was also on scene with a van to keep occupants of the apartment building warm.
The fire was contained to one suite and was declared under control at 6:14 a.m.
Crews ventilated the building of residual smoke and carbon monoxide during the salvage and overhaul stage.
The building was fully vented, and occupants were let back into their suites at 6:38 a.m.
SFD’s Fire Investigator deemed the cause of the fire as incendiary and noted the smoke alarms in the burned suite had been tampered with. Fire damage is estimated at $20,000.
SFD would like to remind residents to test their smoke alarms monthly. Tampering or removing life safety devices such as smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms is a criminal offence and can be subject to fines up to $25,000.
