Fatal motel fire caused by improper disposal of smoking material

A fire at a Saskatoon motel, which claimed a man’s life early Thursday morning, was caused by “improper disposal of smoking material,” the Saskatoon Fire Department said.

The department said a fire investigator examined the room where the fire originated at a motel in the 1800 block of Idylwyld Drive North and concluded the smoking material was to blame for the blaze. The fire ignited on a desk in the room, the fire department said, but after firefighters forced open the door they were able to extinguish the fire before it could spread. The man’s body was found inside the same suite.

“It was identified that the motel room was missing its smoke alarm,” the department added. “The Fire Investigator has requested the smoke alarm records in accordance with the Saskatoon Fire and Protective Services Bylaw 7990.”

Damage from the fire was estimated at $30,000.