A dog caught home alone in a fire on Saskatoon’s west side is safe at a neighbour’s home, according to a Saskatoon fire official.
Fire crews were called to 634 Avenue H South shortly after 12 p.m. Friday. Heavy black smoke was coming from the home’s basement and main floor windows.
No one was home at the time but when firefighters broke down the front door, a dog escaped the house before running to a neighbour’s home.
The dog appeared safe, battalion chief Morgan Hackl said.
“The dog is with a neighbour at this time.”
Hackl said the fire started in the basement and quickly spread to the main floor because of the home’s old wooden trim.
“Because of the construction of this older home, it was very difficult to get it under control.”
Crews first extinguished the fire on the main floor before tackling the much larger flames in the basement.
A few firefighters even pulled three smoking mattresses from the home and covered them with snow to contain the blaze.
The fire was extinguished by 1:30 p.m. but crews remained on scene for a few hours to make sure the blaze was contained.
Hackl said no neighbouring homes were burned.
“No damage to other properties, but very extensive damage to the property that did have fire.”
Damage is estimated at $200,000. Investigators have yet to determine a cause of the fire.
The homeowners have yet to be notified.
