SASKATOON — Investigators from the Saskatoon Fire Department and Saskatoon Police Service will be working closely to determine the cause of a fire in an apartment building on the 100 block of Avenue O Â鶹´«Ã½AV Thursday morning.
SFD’s Incident Command called for a fire investigator to attend.
The initial finding of the fire investigator determined the fire was a deliberate act. SPS officers, under the General Investigation Section that includes the Arson Unit, were then called to the scene for further investigation and collaboration.
SPS will continue with a criminal investigation as a result of the SFD investigator’s findings from the fire that had estimated damage of $10,000.
SFD responded at 8:09 a.m. with nine fire apparatus to a 9-1-1 call that reported smoke coming out for the fourth floor of the multi-unit residential building.
The fire was discovered after persons were alerted by the building’s fire alarm activation and the sounding of alarms.
Residents were self-evacuating when fire crews arrived. Fire crews also immediately assisted in the rescue and then initiated fire suppression operations.
Approximately 20 more residents were evacuated by fire crews.
Fire crews entered the stairwell of the apartment and found a fire occurring within the fourth-floor stairwell. The fire was extinguished and the smoke was ventilated from the building.
SFD would like to remind the public that working fire alarm systems, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms save lives. They advise everyone to know their fire evacuation plan and procedures, practice the plan regularly and, if a fire is occurring, call 9-1-1.
