‘We have a real concern:’ city sees 50% spike in arson incidents this year

The Saskatoon Fire Department is concerned about the spike in arson cases this year.

On Sunday night, a metal shop on Avenue I South sustained $750,000 damage after it was intentionally lit on fire. Two days earlier an apartment building on 20th Street had the same fate.

They are the latest examples of a “notable increase” in arson since the start of the year. As of Tuesday, 76 of the 450 reported fires have been identified as incendiary.

“We’re really concerned about this,” fire chief Morgan Hackl told 650 CKOM’s Brent Loucks on Wednesday.

“We’re 50 per cent above last year and the year is not finished. The largest hot spot is in the Pleasant Hill neighbourhood, but there are some other neighbourhoods where these are occurring as well.”

Police say the increase is not the work of a single person. They have arrested and charged 16 individuals with arson this year.

A target of the arsonists has been garbage or recycling bins. Keeping bins out sight and removing combustible materials away from structures is a preventative measure according to Hackl.

“When we go into structure fires, we never know what we are faced with. Depending on what they use to ignite, accelerate these fires, there can be extra dangers. We’ve been really focused the last few years on our training.”

The public can report suspicious activity to police at 306-975-8300.