Investigation underway after fire breaks out in Saskatoon

WATCH: Saskatoon firefighters responded to a blaze at a plastic manufacturer early Wednesday morning.

Firefighters were called to the scene of a fast-moving structure fire that broke out at a plastic manufacturing facility early on Wednesday morning.

At around 5:17 a.m., crews responded to a call reporting a fire on the roof of the facility in the 800 block of 56th Street East, the Saskatoon Fire Department (SFD) said in a news release.

SFD dispatched three fire engines, a rescue unit, a ladder truck, and the Battalion Chief.

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When fire crews first arrived on scene, flames were about 10 to 20 feet in the air and there was heavy smoke, according to Deputy Chief Rob Hogan.

Hogan said crews were able to put out most of the flames during the initial attack, but it appeared the fire had already spread throughout most of the building.

He noted there were some added challenges since the building is occupied by a plastic manufacturer.

“They have a substantial warehouse of plastic. Plastic sheets and plastic on pallets, so unfortunately, once that got going, they were unable to contain it,” Hogan told reporters Wednesday morning.

He noted the building had a second roof, which also added challenges.

“We were able to get the first roof off, but we can’t get the second roof off, so we’re kind of stuck,” he said.

Hogan said strong winds hampered firefighting efforts, because at times, it was too windy to put someone on the aerial ladder. But he said the wind direction helped push smoke and fumes out of the city.

The deputy chief said no one was in the building and no injuries have been reported.

Hogan said the damage to the building is extensive and it will need to be dismantled. He said crews are now focused on containing the fire and making sure it doesn’t spread to neighbouring buildings.

Crews had contained the fire by about 4 p.m. Wednesday, but the fire department said a number of hot spots remained and it expected crews to be at the scene managing “well into the evening.”

The cause of the fire is still unknown and is under investigation.