UPDATE: SaskEnergy infrastructure, clandestine lab ruled out as cause of fatal Saskatoon house blast
An early morning explosion killed a person and levelled a house in Saskatoon on Saturday morning.
The Saskatoon Police Service said, in a statement, that it and the fire department are investigating what caused the blast, which took place in the 2200 block of Clarence Avenue South a few minutes before 4 a.m.
The statement said officers from the major crimes and forensic identification units were at the scene, along with members of the provincial coroner’s office, but they couldn’t release any further information about the victim. The release said they likely wouldn’t be able to release further information for a while, due to the “extensive scene.”
Speaking to reporters on Saturday afternoon, Fire Chief Morgan Hackl said first responders hadn’t yet removed the body from the wreckage.
“At this time, all the debris from the fire entered into the basement and that is where the body is located so fire investigators and fire crews will remove the body. It will be turned over to the police and the coroner and an investigation will be done at that time,” Hackl said.
He told reporters he had rarely seen anything like it.
“The front walls of the home were blown out onto the grass,” he said, and “the entire front window jam was actually blown out of its structure and is on the street.”
“Vehicles to the south, a garage fire, a house to the north of this property right next door were all fully involved.”
He said fire crews weren’t allowing the neighbours who live in the house to the north of the wreckage back inside because the damage to their home is so severe.
Firefighters are allowing those who live in the house to the south back inside but Hackl said they can’t stay the night.
Fire crews and police were still at the scene around noon. Even Saskatoon mayor Charlie Clark surveyed the damage, expressing his shock to Global News.
“To see the roof of the house on the top of the roof of each neighbouring house is mind-blowing,” he said.
He said the death of the resident is “a tragedy for our community.”
An earlier police statement, released around 5:30 a.m., stated two officers noticed a house fire a few minutes before 4 a.m. and heard an explosion as they approached.
Most of the debris either blew away or ended up in the basement of the home. Hackl said there was also a garage fire and house fire next door to the house. Fire crews scrambled to protect both other structures.
Hackl said around 7 a.m. the scene was turned over from firefighters to the fire investigator. At 7:11 a.m. the body was located in the basement.
At this time, no other injuries or fatalities have been reported. Hackl said the fire department has been told that only one resident lived in the home but investigators still haven’t determined if anyone else was inside at the time. Hackl added investigators will sift through the debris and see if they discover any more bodies.
To his knowledge, Hackl said the house did not have previous violations or calls with the fire department.
In addition to the main explosion, Hackl said there were a number of secondary explosions in vehicles on the property with tires exploding.
Hackl explained that the blast caused the front walls of the house to blow onto the grass and the front door to blow onto the street.
“There was a lot of force,” he said.
“Large debris, vehicles and a detached garage were all on fire,” it stated.
The fire department statement said no firefighters had been injured.
The statement said a fire investigator was at the scene and that damage estimates were pending.
Police have cordoned off the street and are asking residents to avoid the area to allow emergency services access.