Saskatoon kids flock to park as fire department builds two 100-foot slip and slides

It was a busy day for firefighters at Saskatoon’s John Lake Park on Tuesday, but it wasn’t because they were putting out fires.

Instead of fighting fires, several members of the Saskatoon Fire Department broke out the hoses to cool off the red-hot summer energy for a bunch of hyper kids by constructing two 100-foot-long slip and slides down the hill at the park.

The temperature climbed close to the 30s on Tuesday, making it a perfect day to hold such an event.

Read more:

• Family of man found dead in Saskatoon dumpster call for answers
• Apartment fire caused by cigarette butt: Saskatoon Fire
• More hiccups for BHP’s Jansen Potash Mine Project

Hundreds of kids zipped down the slip and slide on Tuesday afternoon. (Shane Clausing/650 CKOM)

TJ Nicholson was one of the firefighters who helped build the slip and slide and man the line as hundreds of kids went up and down the slide several times.

Nicholson said six fire cadets, along with other crews from the city, showed up to help put on the event.

He mentioned they do this to help give back to the community.

“It’s a hot day, good to give back. (A) big part of the job is obviously responding and we’re here to spend some time giving back,” Nicholson said. “It’s good to get out in the community, interact and be seen in a way that people probably don’t usually see the fire department.

“Usually we try to do a couple in summer, but this year was with the weather and manpower, this is the only one that we’ve been able to do. We were anticipating a big turnout and Saskatoon came out.”

The day was filled with smiles and laughter for the kids, parents and fire department. (Shane Clausing/650 CKOM)

Anita Petit brought her daughter out and said she was very excited to go slide down the hill with all of the other kids.

“I brought them here today because finally we have some hot weather. It’s been raining, windy, cold, cloudy, and today is just really gorgeous,” Petit said.