Watch your butts: Saskatoon fire investigator says discarded cigarette started $200K apartment blaze

(Courtesy: Saskatoon Fire Department)

A Saskatoon investigator says an apartment fire in the Fairhaven neighbourhood early Tuesday morning was caused by an improperly discarded cigarette butt.

Multiple 911 calls came in just after 3:30 a.m. on Aug. 19 to report a fire in an apartment building in the 400 block of Fairmont Drive, the Saskatoon Fire Department said in a news release.

Firefighters saw flames rising from a second-floor apartment in the three-storey building when they arrived on scene minutes later.

Crews soon had to call in a fourth fire engine for support, as flames began moving toward the roof and attic space, the fire department said.

By about 4:24 a.m., firefighters had the situation under control, and the flames were fully snuffed out about 10 minutes later.

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No one was injured in the incident. The fire department says two suites sustained fire damage, with four people displaced and rehomed by the property owner. All other residents will be able to return to their apartments once the alarms are serviced, the fire department says.

An investigator examined the scene and determined the fire started on a balcony from improperly disposed smoking material.

“Saskatoon Fire Department wants to remind everyone to use an appropriate receptacle to discard cigarette butts such as a sealed jar with water inside,” the department said in a news release.

“Ashtrays, plastic containers and metal cans are known to catch fire, melt or allow butts to be blown out and start combustible material on fire.”

The cost of the damages caused by the fire is estimated to total $200,000.