Red Cross provides aid as fire forces dozens from apartments

The Red Cross is helping dozens of people forced from their homes following a weekend apartment fire.

“We do assessments based on need and see how we can help folks. (We) generally do it for the first 72 hours,” said  Deanna Down, an emergency team lead with the Red Cross in Saskatoon.

The agency reported 29 adults and three children stayed in a hotel after a fire broke out Sunday at 115 Avenue O South.

The Saskatoon Fire Department was called to the building shortly before 8:30 p.m.

Crews arrived to find smoke and flames visible in a second-floor apartment.

Firefighters were told there were still people inside the building, prompting them to send crews in to search while others worked on the blaze.

One person was brought out of a basement suite and two more people were rescued from a balcony. Four cats were also retrieved from the building.

The fire was quickly extinguished, with all people from the building accounted for.

Saskatoon police later reported that investigators found the fire was caused by a pot left on the stove.

One person reportedly suffered minor burns in the blaze. Other than that, Down said everyone appeared to be unhurt.

Down said the agency would be doing another assessment Tuesday afternoon to see if there was anything people needed to be more comfortable.

“We’re looking for things like ‘do they need clothing?’ Sometimes, people lose their eyeglasses, medication refills.”

She asked anyone wanting to help to consider volunteering their time.

“We’re always, always looking for more volunteers and if people want to make donations to the Red Cross, they’re more than welcome. These funds that we’re helping these folks with are donor dollars.”

Damage from Sunday’s blaze was estimated at $200,000.