SASKATOON — Saskatoon Fire Department crews braved the extreme cold weather Wednesday evening in battling a mobile home fire in the 1500 block of Rayner Avenue.
SFD received the report at 5 p.m. and dispatched three fire engines, one rescue unit, a ladder truck and the Battalion Chief. The Fire Investigator on duty was also on the scene.
First arriving fire crews saw smoke and flames coming out of the mobile home. The structure’s utilities, electrical and natural gas services were shut down for scene safety.
Fire crews made sure no one was inside the burning structure with one of the occupants located inside their vehicle trying to stay warm.
Firefighters began an exterior attack while the Fire Officer in charge assigned additional tactical duties to other arriving crews. A captain of another fire crew was delegated as Safety Officer.
Officers in charge requested a truck from the city to assist in spreading sand/gravel due to icy conditions caused by water used to extinguish the fire.
Another fire engine was also requested to help as fire engines on scene freezing was a concern due to extremely cold temperatures that reached -40 C.
Fire crews worked in rotation to avoid long exposure to the extreme cold and provide relief. The fire, after almost two hours, was declared under control at 7:31 p.m.
SFD maintenance crews loaded all equipment used in their vehicle and return to their stations for thawing and decontamination. No civilians or firefighters were injured as a result of the fire.
The Fire Investigator conducted a scene examination and concluded the cause of the fire was accidental from a kerosene heater being too close to the exterior of the structure in an effort to keep water lines from freezing.
The wood skirting around the mobile home caught fire and caused $30,000 in damages. The occupant was rehoused. The Fire Investigator had the structure secured and left the scene at 10:43 p.m.
