Firefighters union calls for province to step up after successive waves of overdose calls

The union representing Saskatoon firefighters is urging the province to step up support for frontline workers amid an ongoing surge in overdose-related calls.

Saskatoon’s firefighters union is calling on the province to step up its support to frontline workers and drug users, as three successful months of escalating overdose incidents puts a growing strain and staff.

“This is not a one-off trend — this is a sustained increase that is impacting our ability to respond effectively across the board,” said Jay Protz, president of the IAFF Local 80, which represents the city’s firefighters.

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“Our firefighters are showing up, saving lives, and doing everything that’s asked of them. But they cannot continue to absorb this level of demand without additional support.”

Last week, the Saskatoon Fire Department said it had responded to 195 overdose calls in the first two weeks of April alone — a total surpassing the three previous months.

As of the Sunday, the Saskatoon Fire Department says it has responded to 301 overdose-related calls so far this month.

Saskatoon fire Chief Doug Wegren confirmed his crews have noted an increase in overdose-related calls since the closure of Prairie Harm Reduction, the city’s former supervised consumption site that closed after its board revealed a massive financial shortfall late last month.

The department told CTV News last week that about 30 per cent of those calls come from within five blocks of Prairie Harm Reduction.

“The SFD is closely monitoring the additional pressure these calls place on service capacity and remains strongly focused on staff well‑being,“ Wegren said.

“As always, the SFD is committed to meeting the emergency medical and public safety needs of all Saskatoon residents.”

The Ministry of Health maintains there’s no actual data linking the spike in drug toxicity incidents with the closure of Prairie Harm Reduction. It pointed to a similar rising tide of reported overdoses in the spring of 2025, when the harm reduction site was still in operation.

The fire department’s numbers confirm that position. It’s staff had already responded to 991 overdoses by this time last year, compared to the current annual total of 810, as of April 19.

But regardless of what caused the spike, Protz is concerned his teammates won’t be able to absorb this level of demand much longer without support.

He’s calling on the provincial government to recognize the severity of the crisis and take immediate action, including increased funding for frontline services, expanded access to addiction and mental health supports and “a coordinated strategy that addresses the root causes of the overdose epidemic.”

“This is a provincial health emergency brought to our city streets, because of the safety and security the municipal government provides for its citizens,” he said.

Mental Health and Addictions Minister Lori Carr said the government is open to working with the union.

“I haven’t heard directly from the union, but what I can say is we will work directly with them on and maybe what supports need to be put in place, but I just really need to understand better what that looks like,” Carr told reporters following question period Monday.

Some Saskatoon residents have also expressed concerns about the large volumes of overdose calls.

“It’s constant, sometimes three or four at a time, it’s getting out of hand,” said Murray McKnight who was standing outside of Prairie Harm Reduction building.

Also alarmed, was Lexus Sasakamoose, who often relied on daily services from Prairie Harm Reduction.

“It’s heartbreaking,” he told CTV News. “You hear this a lot around here, ‘What if that’s somebody’s sister? Somebody’s brother?’”

-With files from Stacey Hein