Saskatoon Fire Department exploring locations for new fire hall, relocating another
Report says main fire hall downtown is aging and could be replaced as part of a combined facility
The Saskatoon Fire Department is considering adding a new fire station, relocating another and replacing Fire Hall No. 1.
It's all in a report being tabled today at a teleconference meeting of the standing police committee on planning, development and community services.
The report is part of the fire department's work on a Strategic Facilities Master Plan to meet the future needs of the city.
It has identified two districts, Districts 2 and 7, that are not meeting a benchmark of four minutes travel time to emergency calls.
District 2 is served by Fire Station No. 2 on Diefenbaker Drive. The area has seen major growth to the west since the fire hall was opened in 1981.
The fire department is researching two potential locations — one north of 33rd Street W. and another near 11th Street W. — for a new fire hall that would require 20 firefighters.
The fire department is also looking to relocate Fire Station No. 7 which is currently located on Wanuskewin Road. The report said the department is not meeting the recommended four-minute travel time for emergency response into River Heights, Lawson Heights and Silverwood Heights.
The report is also proposing the aging Fire Station No. 1 downtown should be replaced because of increasing costs to maintain.
It said a new fire hall downtown could be part of a combined facility that might qualify for federal funding.
"One option for the replacement provides the opportunity for outside funding if non-market housing is incorporated via the National Housing Strategy," the report said. "The replacement will support sustainable growth to densify the downtown and continue to meet operational needs; being the hub of the fire response model."