Deputy Fire Chief Gord Hewitt of Regina Fire told 980 CJME News that crews were called to the Uplands neighbourhood along Winnipeg Street and 9th Ave N around 1:40 p.m. Traffic was restricted on Winnipeg Street by refinery security.

Deputy Fire Chief Gord Hewitt of Regina Fire told 980 CJME News that crews were called to the Uplands neighbourhood around 1:40 p.m. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)

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Regina Fire was still trying to get the fire under control around 4 p.m., with several fire trucks, a pump, and water tanker at the scene.

A 980 CJME listener sent in video of the blaze.

(Video by Murray Wood/980 CJME)

In Saskatoon, city fire crews were called to a grass fire west of Highway 16 near the city on Saturday afternoon.

Heavy smoke filled the air in the area and Dalmeny Fire and Rescue were also called in to help out.

Traffic restrictions in place did not affect Highway 16.

I’m west of highway 16 where a grass fire has broken out this afternoon, fire crews are on scene and traffic doesn’t appear to be affected. @CKOMNews pic.twitter.com/E9xTPicWM0

— Will Mandzuk (@WMandzuk) May 3, 2025

As well, a third grass fire in the province in the Mosquito, Grizzly Bear’s Head, Lean Man First Nation area near Highway 4 was affecting visibility in the area, Battlefords RCMP said in  a news release on Saturday afternoon.

RCMP said its officers were assisting fire and emergency services with the blaze. No further information was provided.

Fire risk high to extreme

Saskatchewan Public Safety fire risk map for Saturday showed most areas of the province had a high or extreme fire risk.

The hot weather, with temperatures hovering around 30 C in parts of the province on Saturday, means conditions are ripe for grass fires. Fire bans are in effect in more than 60 RMs in Saskatchewan.

Mike Steckhan, Aberdeen and Blucher Fire Chief, said earlier this week that any little thing could spark a major grass or wildfire.

“You flip a cigarette butt out onto the grass and if there’s a breeze blowing that could do it,” he said.

“A couple years ago some people were having a fire in their backyard and sparks got away from them and got into the grass and the low lying bush a few yards away … it doesn’t take much.”

Steckhan said there isn’t much that property owners can do to prevent a grass fire but added it is important to remove anything that can help fuel a blaze.

“The best thing you can do is prevent a fire in the first place,” he said.

“Don’t let the grass get long in your yard, keep the grass trimmed down and cleaned up … same with trees, brush, don’t let a lot of dead underbrush lay around.”

Watering a lawn won’t help much, Steckhan said.

“… that’s just a small piece of very carefully cultivated grass in front of your house,” he said. “Water your lawn if you want, that’s great but it’s not going to deal with a 10 or 20-acre grass fire.”

— with files from 650 CKOM News and Will Mandzuk, 650 CKOM

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A Saskatchewan Ministry of Health alert on Saturday said not only had the department responded to 25 overdoses in Saskatoon on Feb. 25 and 26 but had now had to deal with 23 further overdoses between 7 a.m. on Feb. 28 and 7 a.m. on March 1.

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The alert said that other agencies may have responded to additional overdoses and it was not known if the newly reported overdoses are from these same substances as reported earlier in the week, or involve a new batch of concern.

Testing provided by Prairie Harm Reduction on Feb. 26 said drugs sold as fentanyl or other drugs that are light pink chunks or dark purple chunks contain both fentanyl, benzos, and other unknown substances and pose a high risk of overdose.

Twenty more overdoses reported

Kayla DeMong, Prairie Harm Reduction’s Executive Director, said the 48 overdoses responded to by the fire department this past week doesn’t paint the full picture.

“From community (organizations) we are looking at, around 20,” said DeMong

The overdoses she referred to are in addition to those reported by SFD.

DeMong said it is a trend they’ve noticed since Jan. 11.

“We’ve seen an exponential rise over the last six weeks,” she said. “We’ve continued to see those trends throughout this time where we’re seeing these surges over 24 hours,” she said.

Rob Hogan, deputy chief of operations and emergency communications for the Saskatoon Fire Department, said on Saturday the continuing spike was alarming.

“In 2024 we were responding on an average to about three and a half overdoses a shift,” said Hogan. “Now we’re up to four and a half and, obviously, we’re having these spikes.”

Hogan said the number of overdoses has increased in 2025, compared to 2024.

Both SFD and Prairie Harm Reduction say none of the recent overdoses were fatal, but Hogan said it’s not as easy as a yes or no answer.

“That’s really hard to pin down, because there are calls we’ve gone to that are fatal that didn’t necessarily come in as an overdose,” he said. “That would be up to the coroner to make that decision, not us.”

Hogan said earlier in the week the department’s resources were under pressure.

“Our crews working last night, started to report to our command staff that they’ve gone to quite a number of overdoses overnight,” he said in an interview with 650 CKOM on Feb. 26.

“We actually had one where the crew was on scene and they found three people overdosed at it,” he said.

Hogan said at the time the number is likely higher as some calls don’t come in as overdoses.

“Not everybody goes to the hospital, some of them refuse treatment, but it puts a strain on our resources.”

“Our numbers for overdoses for this year have spiked quite a bit,” Hogan said as he pulled up a fire department report.

As of 8 a.m. on Feb. 25, Hogan said SFD dealt with 120 overdoses in February, compared to just 69 in February 2024.

He emphasized the department is not the only ones who respond to overdoses, saying Medavie Health Services West, Saskatoon Police Service and community-based partners track their own numbers.

What can I do if I see an overdose?

People can call or text the National Overdose Response Service at 1-888-688-NORS (6677) if they are alone, and having a naloxone kit can also help.

Naloxone is used to treat overdoses for drugs like heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone and hydrocodone, but Praire Harm Reduction has said it has not been effective in all cases in the latest Saskatoon overdose spike because benzos are involved.

The Saskatchewan government provides free Naloxone kits and training on how to administer it to anyone at risk of an opioid overdose, as well as to anyone who might witness an overdose. The training also covers overdose prevention, recognition and response.

A list of places where the free kits are available can be found here. Emergency departments across the province also carry the kits, and they can be purchased at some pharmacies as well.”

Canada’s Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act offers some legal protection and applies to anyone seeking emergency support during an overdose, including any person experiencing an overdose.

The Act protects the person who seeks help, whether they stay or leave from the overdose scene before help arrives. The Act also protects anyone else who is at the scene when help arrives.

Symptoms of an overdose may include but are not limited to:

• slow or no breathing
• gurgling
• gasping or snoring
• clammy and cool skin
• blue lips or nails
• difficulty waking up or staying awake

— with files by 650 CKOM’s Will Mandzuk

Read more:

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The 30-year-old let his mother know that a fire had started in his basement suite on 33rd Street West.

Dyck tried to contact her son, but couldn’t reach him. Her concern grew with each passing moment as her texts and calls to Grant went unanswered.

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The Saskatoon Fire Department received a call at 7:41 p.m. when smoke detectors activated the fire alarm system for the entire building.

The cause of the blaze remains unknown.

The entire building was evacuated, and crews extinguished the fire by dousing the flames from the outside.

By the time help arrived, Grant had already suffered severe burns.

He was airlifted to an Edmonton hospital burn unit where he is now receiving treatment.

Long road to recovery ahead

Bob Grant said the family was shocked to learn the extent of his brother’s injuries.

“I thought because he was texting that it would not have been that bad,” he said.

“(He has) second- and third-degree burns on over 40 per cent of his body. (There’s) a big one on his back, his legs, hands and face.”

Grant’s mother and sister are by his side in Edmonton as he receives life-saving medical care.

“My mom doesn’t even get a lot of time with him,” said Bob. “It takes three hours to change his dressings.”

Grant underwent surgery on Monday and received skin grafts to his arms, hands, back, legs and feet.

His recovery will be long and arduous, and there is still uncertainty about the extent of his injuries.

“They’re still not 100 per cent that he didn’t suffer any kind of brain damage, because he has been so sedated that you can’t ask him questions or anything,” Bob said. “Once he starts healing up, they are going to see if he can follow basic instructions.”

Through all of the heartbreak, glimmers of hope about Grant’s condition have emerged.

“He recognized my sister the other day, which is good,” said Bob.

Grant’s family is incredibly touched by the outpouring of kindness and encouragement they have received.

A GoFundMe in support of Grant and his mom quickly surpassed the initial fundraising goal, and they have heard from people from across the globe wishing Grant well.

“It’s been overwhelming. Everybody has been so great. Zakk has so many friends — all over the world, apparently — that I didn’t even know about,” said Bob. ]]> https://www.cjme.com/2024/04/17/33rd-street-apartment-fire-leaves-saskatoon-man-with-devastating-burns/feed/ 0 https://www.cjme.com/2024/03/06/saskatchewan-snowstorm-sparks-surge-in-carbon-monoxide-calls/ https://www.cjme.com/2024/03/06/saskatchewan-snowstorm-sparks-surge-in-carbon-monoxide-calls/#respond Wed, 06 Mar 2024 20:54:24 +0000 Taylor MacPherson 2024-03-06T22:41:31+00:00 https://d561.cms.socastsrm.com/?p=898379 In the wake of a major weekend snowstorm, the Saskatoon Fire Department has received a handful of calls about blocked furnace vents and carbon monoxide risks.

Fire marshal Brian Conway said the department has received five calls related to carbon monoxide since Friday. In one of those incidents, someone had to be treated on the scene.

Conway said he expects the fire department will receive a few more calls in the coming days because of the snow event.

The venting for a house’s furnace requires air to flow through the intake exhaust pipes, and when heavy snow events hit, it’s important to make sure those vents are clear of snow and ice, Conway explained.

“If they’re blocked, then we have that occurrence that carbon monoxide could be building up within the home,” Conway said, adding the blockages can also cause a furnace to shut down.

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If people can’t reach their vent themselves to clear it, Conway suggests calling a friend, family member or “snow angel” for help.

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous, odorless, flammable gas that can cause flu-like symptoms such as nausea, headaches, dizziness, loss of consciousness, burning eyes or confusion.

“It can be a very dangerous thing,” Conway said.

Having a functioning carbon monoxide alarm on every level of the home is an important safety step as it signals the accumulation of dangerous carbon monoxide levels, he explained.

If the alarm is sounding or if someone believes they’re experiencing the poisoning effects of the gas, they should evacuate all occupants and pets from the home and call 911, Conway said.

He added it’s important for people to get their furnaces serviced regularly and to monitor the vents year round.

“Fire department. How’s it going? Who am I talking to?” she asks.

The tent is one of four set up around the dying garden’s perimeter on a brisk October morning. A tarp over one of the tents reads “There’s a champion in here.”

Dawn, the inspector, asks the person inside if they are OK. A weak voice replies that his name is “Eddie” and that he is sick.

“Do you need the hospital? Need an ambulance or anything?” she inquires.

650 CKOM is not using the last names of Dawn, or her colleague Terry, for safety reasons. The fire department duo responds to daily complaints about hundreds of homeless people at encampments across the city, but their work is complicated and involves connecting those living in makeshift shelters with social services or resources to help them return to a home.

Homeless encampments are a growing concern, and occupy most neighbourhoods in Saskatoon, including Churchill, Avalon, Evergreen and Stonebridge.

In 2022, the fire department counted 512 interactions with people who were unhoused and living in temporary structures throughout the city. As of August this year, that number had climbed to nearly 600.

Fire Chief Morgan Hackl estimates that 85 per cent of neighbourhoods in the city have someone unhoused living in them.

“Our data is still climbing, and that’s concerning to us,” he says.

650 CKOM senior reporter Lara Fominoff was permitted to ride along with the fire department as the inspectors visited notable spots where encampments often form. The community garden in Pleasant Hill was one of those places.

“Have I met you before?” Dawn persists. “Are you sure there isn’t something we can do for you?”

Eddie remains in his tent as Dawn hands him an Emergency Notice to Remedy, which informs the tent occupants the structure isn’t safe and must be taken down. It was the second time in just a few days the notices had been handed out.

Building relationships

Another area where encampments are regularly found and dismantled is the alley behind Prairie Harm Reduction and St. Mary’s Parish, located next door.

A bright green wagon with a missing wheel, piles of clothing and a discarded bike helmet line the fence. A stained mattress is propped against the chain-link fence while a draped sheet hangs nearby.

“Quite often, there would be structures along the fence (behind the church), in the back yard of one property … a couple by Prairie Harm,” Hackl points out.

Hackl and Terry, the inspector, are well known in the area, stopping to speak with several people seated along a concrete wall who say they’d either been on the Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability program or wanted help getting lost or stolen government-issued ID replaced.

“We have a good relationship. I know how you treat me,” Hackl says to one man who approaches him.

“And you know how I treat you,” he continues. “You know if you need anything when you see our staff, they’ll help you out, right?”

But not everyone in the area is receptive to Hackl and Terry being there. One man who rides into the crowd on a bicycle makes his way from person to person, appearing to either give or offer them something.

Suddenly, he puts on a green medical mask and faces the inspectors with both hands in his pockets.

“Hey, fireman! Here!” he yells while suddenly pulling a hand out of his pocket to throw something in their direction.

Terry and Hackl agree it’s time to wrap up their time at this location.

“We’ll do this quick, and then we’ll get out of here,” Terry says.

A complicated issue

Along Saskatchewan Crescent East, a prestigious part of town lined with multi-million-dollar homes, Dawn receives a complaint about an encampment in Cosmopolitan Park.

A woman walking her dog sees the inspectors and says her sister called in the complaint.

“They’re pretty violent. They’ve broken in or attempted to break into my house,” she tells them.

“My garage was broken into, $7,500 damage to my car. I have no tolerance. I’m on a special calling list. Anytime I see anything, I call you guys. I’m sorry, but it’s dangerous,” she adds.

While there are dangers on the job, Dawn says the fire department makes a difference with many people she, Terry and Hackl have formed relationships with over the years.

“I actually love interacting with them. I really do. (I love) hearing their stories and trying to see what you can do to help. And (if) you even help one person, you get one person into a shelter, and you feel success,” she says.

But solving or even making a dent in the number of those who don’t have a home in Saskatoon is a complicated issue. Many people have addictions, intergenerational trauma, or mental health struggles. Some have very complex needs that are difficult to address, says Hackl.

About 40 per cent of the time, Hackl says, the fire department can help someone get into a shelter or connect them with a social assistance program.

“If we weren’t in this work, there would be a lot of people we believe that would not be connecting to services and supports,” he says.

“In a perfect world, we would have immediate supports, right? So we don’t have that. All of these things compound the problem. It’s not one agency. It’s so complicated that you can’t point to one thing.”

But as the days grow shorter and the temperature nears freezing, Hackl and his team aim to get as many people off the streets before winter arrives.

Listen to Behind the Headlines with Lara Fominoff

With the “Siberian Express” currently hovering over Saskatchewan, Rob Hogan — deputy fire chief with the Saskatoon Fire Department — said the department tells crews to use extra caution in extreme weather conditions.

Firefighting is already a tough and dangerous occupation, Hogan said, but the cold creates another challenge.

“(You’re) coming out of a very warm environment and you have a few minutes of reprieve until the cold really starts to set in. When you add water to the mix, it becomes just that more difficult,” he said.

The equipment can withstand the cold relatively well, according to Hogan, but the firefighters’ self-contained breathing apparatus bottles that contain compressed air can freeze up.

He adds crews can also be faced with safety concerns such as frostbite and freezing gear.

“When you start adding water, everything starts to get slippery (and) ice forms,” he said.

Fire trucks have heaters for pumps to keep them from freezing, and Hogan said crews do their best to keep the trucks in a warm, heated environment.

“Usually after about 45 minutes to an hour, we try to get the apparatus off scene, unless we’re using them to pump at a fire,” he said. “They’re good in the cold for a while but they tend to freeze up like any vehicle.”

Deputy fire chief Rob Hogan with the Saskatoon Fire Department shows us some of the gear firefighters use in icy conditions pic.twitter.com/wJnWfmi3KX

— 650 CKOM (@CKOMNews) January 30, 2023

When it comes to keeping firefighters safe in the bitter cold, Hogan said the department rotates crews more often to keep everyone warm.

He notes firefighters also use the same gear year-round, but in cold weather, staff are provided with two full sets. That includes mitts and hoods to keep them dry, as well as spiked cleat-like attachments for their footwear.

Hogan added when temperatures get extremely low, medical calls tend to go down, but he said calls related to alarm systems tend to rise.

“We want you to have fun and enjoy the river, the parts of it that are safe,” Deputy Chief Rob Hogan said.

But while having fun around the water, Hogan urged the public to remain cautious and take precautions for safety. The river can be dangerous to anyone, Hogan said, regardless of their level of experience.

Hogan said the “party island” incident involved a group of people on a large inflatable on the river near the Poplar Bluffs Conservation Area.

The rules of the water require oars or some sort of power source on a vessel, as well as a thrown rescue device, lifejackets and a whistle, none of which Hogan believes were present on the inflatable island over the weekend.

To date, the fire department has received 29 water emergency calls this year, which is about on par with last year according to City of Saskatoon media relations manager Mark Rogstad. There were 53 such calls in 2021, and 44 the year before.

How fire crews respond to water rescue situations, especially outside the city, depends on what else is happening within city limits. Hogan said the fire department’s water rescue team is robust and practises regularly, but it takes time and resources to get to an emergency on the river.

The department will respond as far north on the South Saskatchewan River as Clarkboro Ferry, he said. To the south, it will go as far as Whitecap Dakota First Nation and the RM of Rudy.

Hogan said the heat impacts everyone differently, and while the river is a great way to stay cool, it’s important to know the rules. Swimming in the river is prohibited within Saskatoon city limits, according to city bylaw 4433.

“We do ask individuals to use their own common sense and play to their strengths,” Hogan said. “You need to be cognizant and you need to ensure your own safety when you’re out there.”

Good planning includes having a way to contact emergency services, a charged cellphone, a personal flotation device, and making sure you’re playing within your limits, he said.

Hogan said the fire department does not give out fines or provide enforcement.

“That’s up to the police and the RCMP,” he said.

In cases where the city’s fire department has an agreement with a municipality, Hogan said the department will charge the municipality for a service. The municipality will then charge the individual responsible for incurring the cost.

Such a process takes place in the case where fire services must intervene with a controlled burn, for example. Hogan said the department hasn’t done so in the case of a water rescue, however.

Adding other resources like sonar or a dive operation can be taxing on the service, he said, especially during the summer months when staffing levels are low.

“It’s important to realize that we’re stretched, and if we do need to go out of the city, it is dependent on our resources in the city, and so it may be delayed,” he said.

The first call came in at 10:00 p.m. on Saturday night, saying someone went missing from their group.

This group had been on a “party island” and had floated away from the sand bars.

According to a release, a water rescue team was dispatched shortly after getting the call.

SFD used the assistance of a Saskatoon Police Service plane to help search the area. At 10:58 p.m., the crew in the SFD boat found a person in the river up to his neck in the water.

This missing person was brought to shore with no injuries.

Early Sunday morning

The next call came in at 3:37 a.m. from the RCMP, they had been searching for two missing people stranded on a sand bar.

RCMP confirmed with rescue crews that there were no reported injuries, but these people needed help getting to safety.

One hour later, the people would be safely rescued by around 4:49 a.m.

The SFD is encouraging people to always have a backup plan when going near, or in the water.

Each fire took place between the hours of 12:30 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. early Saturday morning.

The first call was received for the 3100 block of 33rd Street West for a dumpster fire. One fire engine responded to the call and extinguished the blaze, which resulted in damage estimated at $500.

A second dumpster fire was reported at 1:07 a.m. on the 500 block of Avenue H. Similar to the first fire, one fire engine came and extinguished the fire, resulting in an estimated $500 worth of damage.

Later on, a third call came in at 1:49 a.m. that a fence had caught on fire. This was reported on the 600 block of Avenue K South, which resulted in $200 worth of damage.

The fourth fire came in at 2:26 a.m. that a shed was up in flames on the 800 block of Avenue H South. This time, two fire engines responded as well as the battalion chief arrived to see that the fire from the shed had spread to two vehicles near the blaze. 

This fire resulted in over $25,000 worth of damages.

According to the release, the fire investigator determined that all fires were started using an open flame device such as a torch. Each blaze is considered suspicious at this time.

If anyone has information relating to any of these fires, please contact the Saskatoon Police Service at (306) 975-8300.

Soroski has managed to make it through these dark and confusing times thanks to the love and support from her closest friends and family members.

She says the biggest key to moving on from this tragedy is taking things slowly.

“You just have to take it day by day. Every day is a little bit different and I think that’s just how grief goes,” Soroski admitted.

“Some days you’re still just a little bit in shock that it happened, some days you’re kinda sad and some days you’re a little bit angry, but you just gotta take it one step at a time.”

Hannah Soroski (middle right) and her family at a gathering. (Hannah Soroski/Submitted)

Soroski remembers even the little details from that night and describes how her quiet Friday night turned into chaos within minutes.

“It’s so crazy to look back on because it was just a lazy Friday night for me. I had never been so aware of time that night, it was 10:33(pm) and I was going to go to bed and then something told me, ‘I just gotta clean my house’,” Soroski said.

At 11:10pm, Soroski turned on her dishwasher and started to water her plants before hopping into bed.

Just ten minutes later at 11:20pm, she started to hear some cracking noises.

“I heard some cracking sounds and I just had assumed that one of my lids got caught in the dishwasher and was making some noise.

“It took me a few minutes until I heard a really big crack and I got up and walked into my kitchen, and next thing I knew, my whole back wall was (covered),” Soroski said.

Her first instinct was to exit the building immediately before grabbing some essential items.

“I was a little bit in shock, next thing I knew I had my phone in my hand and I was running out. I was like ‘okay, I think this is actually a fire’ and just a total shock.”

“I ran out to the side street and I just saw my whole condo was engulfed in flames. It happened so fast, it was crazy.”

Just before getting to safety and making a run to save her life, Soroski remembered one very important item from her building that she needed to get.

It was her a necklace dedicated to her father.

“I remember running down the hallway and thinking my dad had passed away a couple of years ago and so I have a necklace of his. I ran into my room and grabbed my necklace and I’m so grateful that I still have that,” Soroski said.

Unfortunately, the fire took away several other important pieces that meant the world to Soroski and her late father.

“I did lose all of my dad’s things which is the toughest loss. It’s kind of like you have to grieve him all over again, which is quite painful.

“I had a really beautiful picture of my dad and it was such an antique, it was printed on cardboard. It was a picture of him when he was two and his dad, it was such a beautiful photo. That was a devastating loss for me forsure.”

One of the best ways for Soroski to cope has been through shared experiences with her condo neighbours and what some of them went through.

She says her one neighbour should be labelled a hero for what she did on the night of the fire.

“It’s really hard to think about some of the seniors in there. I’m so happy that they were all able to walk out. I think of my neighbour across, she is in my mind, a hero,” Soroski said.

“When she heard the fire, she went out and started knocking on everyone’s door and yelling, ‘Fire!’ and then she ended up getting stuck in the condo.

“Next thing you know, she turned the lights on and she just started waving her arms at the balcony and then we see about seven firefighters with a ladder just run up this balcony and carry her down. It was just such a crazy sight to see.”

There were no deaths from the fire, according to reports.

Firefighters needed almost eight hours to secure control of the structured fire and an additional seven hours to put it out.

Soroski spent the night at her brother’s place but was unable to actually get any sleep for obvious reasons.

The next day, she returned to the scene to see the entire building destroyed.

“I remember I called my mom and I said, ‘I think you need to take me back to the condo. I need to see it.’

“It was just devastating. The smell was awful, and just seeing everything like your whole life was just in a pile of things. It was just such a weird sight to see.”

Trying to make sense of reality, Soroski managed to return to work just days later on Monday. She said work would be the best thing for her to help distract her from everything, even if it was on a smaller scale to start.

“I think I just wanted a little bit of a normal routine. The hardest part is that you lose your home, and that’s kind of like you lose your safety.”

She says the biggest takeaway is that through this whole experience, she has the best support team of friends and family helping her navigate through the challenges.

“My friends and family were incredible. I’ve had so many people give me donations, clothes and lots of us lost our vehicles in the parkade, so my friend gave me her car.

“It’s just an incredible community. Everyone just wants to help and the messages I got and the cards, it makes me feel so loved. People are good and it’s so great to have that support.”