VIDEO: Saskatoon’s Bethlehem High School ‘significantly’ damaged by fire

The principal of Bethlehem Catholic High School in Blairmore Suburban Centre neighbourhood said on Saturday the school’s new portable classrooms had been significantly damaged after a fire on Friday night.

The statement from Shelda Hanlan Stroh was posted to Facebook on Saturday morning and said other parts of the school had water and smoke damage from the blaze.

Read more:

• Saskatoon road closures: Weekend and Monday traffic detours continue
• Boy shares ‘scary’ encounter with strange man in Aspen Ridge neighbourhood
• New system helps Saskatoon firefighters get to scenes quicker, more informed

Fire damage to Bethlehem High School in Saskatoon after a blaze on Aug. 7, 2026. (Roman Hayter/650 CKOM)

Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) was called to the school off 22nd Street West around 10:30 p.m. on Aug. 7 and said in a news release that crews found heavy smoke and large flames coming from a construction area attached to the school when they arrived.

SFD said a number of hose lines and two ladder trucks were used to extinguish a building under construction, believed to be a portable classroom.

Firefighters checked the school but found no one inside, SFD said.

Fire damage to Bethlehem High School in Saskatoon after a blaze on Aug. 7, 2026. (Roman Hayter/650 CKOM)

A fire investigator was at the site on Saturday, working to identify the cause, origin and damage estimate for the blaze.

It is not known if the fire will delay the start of the school year, scheduled for Sept. 2 and 3, and the principal’s statement said the school district was waiting to hear from the fire department before any decisions would be made.

The City of Saskatoon said in a statement Saturday that the neighbouring Shaw Civic Centre was not affected by the fire and is open as usual.

The Saskatoon Police Service said the fire is considered suspicious, and noted that an arson investigator is looking into the cause.

Fire damage to Bethlehem High School in Saskatoon after a blaze on Aug. 7, 2026. (Roman Hayter/650 CKOM)

School division speaks after fire

The extent of the damage to the high school is not yet known, according to a statement from Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools.

In its statement, the division said the portables, which were under construction, “sustained significant damage.”

Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools communications consultant, Derrick Kunz, said staff are just being allowed back into the main part of the school, where there is water and smoke damage, as of Monday. Cleaning efforts are beginning in that portion of the school. Staff have not been allowed back into the portable areas where the worst of the damage is, yet, according to Kunz.

The communications consultant said the school division and staff are grateful to know the school is not a total loss and expressed significant gratitude to the fire crews and emergency responders who have worked over the weekend on the school.

“We are so blessed for their service to our community,” the school division statement read.

Details on how the fire and its damage will affect students returning to school next month are not yet known.

“With the start of the school year just a few weeks away, school and division staff are working to plan any adjustments that will need to be made,” the division’s statement read. “A huge thank you to the school administration as well as the facility and technology services teams who were up late into the night supporting our partners at Saskatoon Fire.”

A previous fire at the school in 2009, which was found to have been intentionally set, similarly damaged portable classrooms, Kunz confirmed with 650 CKOM.

“As a faith-filled Catholic community, we draw strength from our shared faith and resilience in times of unexpected challenge. Please join us in keeping the Bethlehem family, emergency responders in your prayers. Together, with patience and grace, we will navigate the days ahead and ensure our students and staff are supported.”

–with files from 650 CKOM’s Libby Gray and Roman Hayter