A fire investigator has determined that improper disposal of smoking material was the cause of a fatal fire this morning (mon).

Saskatoon Police Service says the victim is a 39 year old man from Saskatoon.

Shortly after 2:30 a.m. the Saskatoon Fire Department received a report of a fire on the third floor of an apartment building at 202 Avenue P South.

Four engines, a ladder truck and a heavy rescue unit responded and when they arrived firefighters could see flames coming from a balcony on the third floor. One crew started fighting the fire via the balcony and another went inside to clear the building. Three people were removed from the burning suite and two of those individuals were handed over to paramedics with Medavie Health Services while the third was deceased.

The fire was contained to the one suite and was under control at 3:01 a.m. and the fire investigator identified the living room of the suite as the place where the blaze started.

There were no smoke alarms present inside the suite at the time of the fire. Damage is estimated at $50,000.