Missing fire alarm results in death from apartment fire

There are still two people in critical condition resulting from an early-morning house fire earlier this week.

The Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) was called Monday at 2:34 a.m., to an apartment building at 202 Ave. P South. Crews arrived to find a third-floor balcony on fire.

“This was a tragic accident,” Assistant Fire Chief Yvonne Raymer said.

Investigators now suspect the cause of the fire was improper disposal of smoking material in the suite.

“The assumption is that the occupants removed the smoke alarm,” Raymer stated.

At this point, Raymer believes there won’t be any charges laid in this scenario.

“Enough of a price has been paid for a penalty,” she said. “We’ll do our best to publicly educate and send out messaging around tampering with smoke alarms. It is a criminal offence.”

Both the second and third floors had to be evacuated, and 11 total people have been put up for temporary housing.

“There is smoke and water throughout the building,” Raymer said. “It’s just the ground floor away from the fire suite that can actually be occupied.”

The total damage stands at $50,000.