The Saskatoon Fire Department is reminding all residents to make sure smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are installed and in working condition in their homes. The SFD made the remark after a fire destroyed a house at the 100 Block of Poplar Crescent early Wednesday morning.
The SFD Communications Center received a call at 6:13 a.m. from the occupants of the house, which was already filling up with smoke. The smoke alarm sounded non-stop, waking up the occupants so they managed to evacuate the house. According to the standard operating procedure, all utilities were shut down to secure the safety of the scene.
A fire investigator was later alerted at 7:06 a.m. The investigation concluded with electrical failure being the cause of the fire that originated in the wall space adjacent to the stairwell. Estimated cost of the damage was $300,000.
Three fire engines, a heavy rescue unit, a ladder truck, and the Battalion Chief were dispatched at the scene with the first arriving fire crew reporting that there were no signs of fire. However, they encountered smoke once they entered the house.
Other fire crews that arrived on the scene were assigned their tactical tasks. Firefighters discovered the fire was under a stairwell of the house and had already spread into the ceiling that divides the first and second floors.
