SASKATOON -- The Saskatoon Fire Department has issued a demolition order for a boarded-up home in the 1600 block of Avenue C North.

A fire set to the property on May 20 caused $300,000 in damage, the department said in a news release.

“The Fire Prevention and Investigation section of the Saskatoon Fire Department has conducted follow-up on the property. As a result of recent enforcement action, a demolition order has been posted; a fire inspector will monitor the progress of this order to confirm compliance over the coming weeks,” the release said.

The fire department also confirmed that six recent fires on Saskatoon's west side were deliberately set.

They include:

  • May 15 fire at a boarded-up home in the 400 block of Avenue S South which caused $1,000 in damage.
  • May 21 garage fire in the 100 block of Avenue K South which caused $10,000 in damage
  • May 21 home fire in the 400 block of Avenue V South which caused $30,000 in damage.
  • May 23 home fire in the 300 block of Avenue S South which caused $25,000 in damage
  • May 23 shed fire in the 100 block of Avenue S South which caused $5,000 in damage.
  • May 23 fire at a boarded-up home in the 1900 block of 22nd Street West which caused $5,000 in damage.

Firefighters also responded to a fire set to a boarded up house and garbage bin Wednesday morning in the 100 block of Avenue O South.

As of May 22, 45 out of the department’s 97 fires to date this year were incendiary — which is how intentionally set fires are classified — including multiple boarded-up homes.

"A lot of it is in the Pleasant Hill area and it's surrounding these vacant buildings. We have been investigating these buildings since last fall. Of the 47 that we deemed vacant, we have had 29 fires that were deliberate,” assistant chief Yvonne Raymer said.

Nicole Kelsey lives across the street from the home to be demolished and saw the fire unfold.

“We have had problems with that house, we have lived here for 12 years and pretty much since then we have had issues and the multiple fires they have had.”

Kelsey said she’s grateful that the property is being demolished – but she and other neighbours wanted it to happen sooner.