The Saskatoon Police Service has confirmed the person who died after a fire and explosion in the 2200 block of Clarence Avenue South early Saturday morning was a 59 year old man who lived there. His identity is not being released, and police don’t believe foul play is involved.

The Saskatoon Fire Department says the cause of a fatal early morning fire Saturday remains under investigation but the damage estimate to three properties involved is estimated at $600,000.
Fire Chief Morgan Hackl says first arriving crews found one home totally leveled, and fire had spread to vehicles, a garage and another neighbouring home. Hackl says the gable ends of the home and parts of the roof ended up on each neighbouring roof to the north and the south, and there was a lot of force behind the explosion. The front walls of the home were blown out onto the grass, the entire front window jam was actually blown out of it’s structure and landed on the street. Hackl said there were also a number of secondary explosions in vehicles on the property with tires exploding. Hackl says it is probable an accelerant was used and natural gas was part of the equation.