SASKATOON — A residential fire early Thursday morning that originated in a basement bedroom in the 400 block of Avenue I North caused an estimated $100,000 in damages.
The Fire Investigator, after performing a cause and origin scene examination, determined that the cause of the fire was the careless disposal of smoking material in the basement bedroom.
The Saskatoon Fire Department dispatch received a report of a house fire at 4:34 a.m. and immediately sent three engines, one ladder truck, a rescue unit and the Battalion Chief.
All four occupants safely evacuated from the home and were sheltering in a vehicle when fire crews arrived at the scene where they observed smoke and flames coming from the home.
Crews advanced a hose line to apply water to the fire while another crew shut off the natural gas. Utility companies were notified and utilities were shut down to ensure safety at the scene.
At 5:04 a.m. heavy flames continued from the second-floor windows and fire crews notified and evacuated the occupants in adjacent homes.
Firefighters continued to extinguish the fire, resulting in heavy smoke. Firefighters extinguished all visible flames by 5:45 a.m. and the home was prepared for ventilation.
Once the smoke cleared, fire crews checked the home for hot spots and later discovered, at 6:07 a.m., a hidden fire in the back of the home.
Crews on the scene took turns to avoid cold exposure and provide relief. Firefighters attacked the fire at the back of the home and the fire was brought under control at 6:32 a.m.
After extensively searching the home, fire crews were unable to find the four-month-old Shepherd puppy of the occupants.
The dog’s whereabouts remain unknown and the search concluded and crews declared the loss stopped at 7:52 a.m.
