Suites deemed unsanitary at Prairie Heights condo tower closed by Saskatoon fire department

The Saskatoon Fire Department wasted little time intervening at the Prairie Heights condo tower, which has suites deemed too filthy to live in for some residents.

Less than 24 hours after inspecting the condo tower at 1416 20th Street W, inspectors closed 16 of the 44 suites “because of unsafe and unsanitary living conditions” Thursday.

“We have been there on a fairly regular occurrence,” fire chief Morgan Hackl said of the department’s repeated issues with the property.

“It has not been just for emergency incidents, but also for life, safety, health and fire safety systems.”

Wednesday’s inspection uncovered a variety of hazards that made the property uninhabitable for a dozen people living in the building, including no water to some suites, sewer back up, stolen copper pipes and cockroaches.

“It’s unsafe and unsanitary conditions,” Hackl said. “There’s been lots of damage to some of these suites and, because copper pipes have been removed, people are using ovens for a heating source in some of the suites. That’s a real safety concern for us.”

The fire department worked with the Ministry of Social Services and the Salvation Army to relocate 12 residents to safe, healthy accommodations.

The building’s condo board was recently handed a $58,000 bill for repairs and associated problems.

Hackl said issues have been ongoing at Prairie Heights for years. In 2017, the fire department was called five times for emergencies.

In 2020, that number grew to 109 calls. So far this year, crews have been dispatched to the building 45 times for emergencies alone.