The Saskatoon Fire Department responded to a fire in the 500 block of Queen Street shortly after 8 Sunday morning. They were alerted to the fire by an alarm monitoring company and when fire crews arrived saw smoke coming from a second floor window. The fire, which was on the main level of the building, was under control 44 minutes after the call came in. Multiple utilities to the building had to be shut down and there were no people or pets located in the building. The Saskatoon fire department says the fire is considered arson and damage has been estimated at $60,000.

Saskatoon fire crews were called out at 7:39 a.m. Saturday to the 400 block of Avenue G South after getting a report of smoke in the area. Firefighters found a boarded up home with smoke visible at the front. The fire was quickly put out on the main floor and while searching the building, firefighters found a live cat in the basement which was left in the care of a neighbour until Saskatoon Animal Control could pick it up. No one was hurt and the fire investigator says it is arson. Due to the extensive water, smoke and heat damage, the damage estimate has been set at $150,000.

Saskatoon Fire fighters say they were called to a fire at Dr. John G. Egnatoff School Friday night just before 11 where they discovered discarded items and traces of an accelerant on the roof which had been on fire but were now extinguished. While investigating the scene in the 200 block of Kenderdine Road, fire crews were alerted to a teenage boy who was in the area with burns to his back and neck. The teen was taken to hospital by ambulance for further treatment of what fire officials describe as minor burns and say the school didn’t suffer damage but the fire is considered arson.

Sunday will be a more moderate warm summer day to wrap up a record breaking hot weather week in Saskatchewan. Many jobs which require working outside in the heat necessitate extra measures to stay hydrated and not suffer heat exhaustion. But maybe none more so than firefighters. Saskatoon Assistant Fire Chief Wayne Rodger says they rotate crews more frequently putting them in what is called “rehab” then put in a crew from another station. They also have a policy that when firefighters change an air tank they have to drink a bottle of water. Saskatoon Firefighters were called out five times this past week as the province set new record breaking high temperatures.