SASKATOON – Update: The Saskatoon Fire Department says that the five cats were alive at the time of their evacuation by the Saskatoon Fire Department with the Fire Investigator retrieving the last cat during the scene examination. Both properties have been boarded and secured. The gates to the yard with the pool are locked. All occupants of both properties were outside upon SFD's arrival.
The Fire Investigator is issuing repair orders on both structures and will work with the owners and/or their respective insurance companies in the following months.
Original story: Damage from a fire to two homes is estimated to be about $750,000, says a fire investigator from the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD).
On Monday, the fire started at a two-storey house in the 100 block of Zeman Crescent and minutes later the house next door caught fire. The SFD got a call at about 3:44 p.m. and dispatched three fire engines, a rescue unit, a ladder truck, and the SFD Battalion Chief.
When fire crews arrived, they reported that the two-storey house was fully engulfed in flames. They immediately started putting out the flames on the outside of the home and requested the utilities be shut off for scene safety.
Minutes later, the neighbouring house caught fire at about 3:52 p.m. and fire crews continued to extinguish the flames on the outside to minimize damage to the second home.
At 4:12 p.m., fire crews switched from an interior attack to an exterior attack only due to the extent of fire at both properties. Some hazards fire crews were monitoring and aware of, were an in-ground pool and a chimney at risk of collapse.
At 4:36 p.m., the chimney collapsed but no one was injured. The fire was brought under control at 4:42 p.m.
No occupants were inside at the time of SFD's arrival. No residents or firefighters were injured. Five cats were retrieved from a home after the fire was brought under control.
The fire Investigator said the fire started between the two structures on the exterior. Damage is estimated at $500,000 to the first house of and $250,000 to the neighbouring house.
No cause of the fire has been determined at this point, says SFD.
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