The Saskatoon Fire Department says a number of “white powder” calls in the city have cost taxpayers more than $76,000.
Five calls have come in in recent days, prompting streets to be closed and emergency crews to be called. In each case, seven or eight emergency vehicles were called out, and 23-26 staff members responded.
“Each instance was determined to be non-hazardous, but each time we have to treat it as a potential safety threat,” Assistant Chief Wayne Rodger said in a written release. “So, each time, we have to call out our hazardous materials and emergency measures teams, on top of regular crews – and that costs money.”
The fire department says police are now investigating the incidents and at a recent city council meeting Councillor and Police Commissioner Darren Hill asked the city’s solicitor to seek restitution in any “white powder” cases which result in a conviction.
The fire department has broken down the approximate cost for each of the incidents:
| Date | Hours | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| March 16, 2017 |
|
$20,900 |
| March 23, 2017 |
|
$10,500 |
| March 27, 2017 |
|
$13,125 |
| March 27, 2017 |
|
$15,750 |
| March 28, 2017 |
|
$15,375 |
“These incidents cause a lot of disruption for the businesses they target, for the people who work in these buildings and for our community,” Rodger said. “If someone is arrested and a judge decides any of these incidents break the law, City Council does not want taxpayers to pay for the emergency response.”
If you find a package you believe is suspicious, the fire department says you should not handle it more than necessary and call 911.
