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The fire department rescued some residents, but said no deaths or injuries were reported despite the “difficult” conditions.
A fire destroyed the Twin Peaks condominium building on the corner of 108th St. and Bryans Ave. in Saskatoon on Saturday, May 28, 2022. Photo of Zak Vescera / Saskatoon StarPhoenix jpg
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Residents of a Sutherland condominium building lost their homes on Saturday after an uncontrolled fire ravaged the building without repair.
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The Saskatoon Fire Department says the “improper removal of smoking materials” caused the fire that eventually destroyed one of the two Twin Peaks condominium buildings near 108th St. E and Bryans Ave, causing damage estimated at $ 5 million.
Saskatoon firefighters faced a large fire in a condominium building at 108th Street and Bryans Avenue in Saskatoon in the early hours of Saturday, May 28, 2022. Photo by SUPPLIED / Saskatoon Fire Department
The ensuing hell took hours to extinguish. The fire department said they had to rescue some residents of the building on Saturday morning, many of whom spent the night in hotel rooms organized by the Salvation Army. There were no injuries or fatalities.
Property manager Trevor Hanna said fire inspectors told him the 26-unit condominium is beyond salvation.
A fire destroyed the Twin Peaks condominium building on the corner of 108th St. and Bryans Ave. in Saskatoon on Saturday, May 28, 2022. Photo of Zak Vescera / Saskatoon StarPhoenix jpg
“She is OK. It’s a destroyed building and a third of it had to collapse because it wasn’t safe, “said Hanna, co-owner and broker of Saskatoon Real Estate Services.
As of Saturday afternoon, the eastern part of the three-story building was in ruins, with remnants of wicker baskets, cleaning supplies, and clothing protruding from piles of charred, insulating wood. The air smelled of damp ash. A couple of workers with rakes tried to collect as much waste as they could from outside a chain link fence surrounding the wooden-framed building. What was left of the structure was crowned with ash, marking where the fire chewed the roof.
“The roof is completely gone,” Hanna said.
A fire destroyed the Twin Peaks condominium building on the corner of 108th St. and Bryans Ave. in Saskatoon on Saturday, May 28, 2022. Photo of Zak Vescera / Saskatoon StarPhoenix jpg
The department believes the fire started outside the northwest corner of the ground floor of the building. He did not say specifically where the cause was a cigarette, a set of marijuana or another tobacco or cannabis product. It is not known if the person who accidentally started the fire was a resident.
“This was a difficult fire due to many circumstances,” the department said in a statement. “Firefighters performed amazing rescues and fought extreme fire conditions.”
The department and police responded to the fire early in the morning and were there for hours turning off hot spots before parts of the building could be demolished.
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It’s starting to unravel
Posted by Tammy Vallee on Saturday, May 28, 2022
Mitch Kachur’s mother-in-law lives on a nearby property. He said he called him a little after 1 a.m. Saturday after a Saskatoon police officer politely but firmly told him he had to leave the house immediately.
He said it was “amazing” that no one was injured.
“There were sparks so big they went through his head,” he said
Saskatoon firefighters faced a large fire in a condominium building at 108th Street and Bryans Avenue in Saskatoon in the early hours of Saturday, May 28, 2022. Photo by SUPPLIED / Saskatoon Fire Department
Salvation Army Major Mike Hoeft said the nonprofit helped organize a dozen hotel rooms for people displaced by the fire who were uninsured or unsafe. of its coverage. I didn’t know exactly how many people were staying. He said the agency will work with former residents in the coming days to make a lasting housing plan if necessary.
“If they continue to have needs, we’ll make sure they take care of them,” Hoeft said.
Firefighters will hold a press conference on Sunday with more information.
Correction: An earlier version of this story described Salvation Army spokesman Mark Hoeft as a sergeant. In fact, he holds the title of major in this organization.
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