Morgan Hackl, Saskatoon’s fire chief, to retire by March

Saskatoon’s fire chief is leaving the department after 36 years.

Morgan Hackl’s retirement was announced Monday morning. His final day hasn’t yet been set, but he’s expected to step down before the end of March.

Hackl started with the Saskatoon Fire Department as a firefighter before moving up to captain. He served as a battalion chief and assistant chief before his promotion to the top job in 2015.

He was recently recognized by the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs with the 2023 National Fire Chief of the Year Award.

Morgan Hackl and dignitaries at the opening of Fire Station No. 5 in Saskatoon on Aug. 29, 2023. (Will Mandzuk/650 CKOM)

Hackl said he’s proud of a number of achievements during his time as fire chief.

“Our fire stations and deployment model – we looked at that very closely over the last number of years and looked at all of our data,” he said.

“We have some new stations coming in the west end in the next two years. Our regional training facility was a big success for SFD – that is going to be an incredible facility in the future and be for much more than just the fire service.”

Hackl also said he was proud of how the department been able to take care of people in the community, but said it will undoubtedly need to overcome new challenges in the future.

“We’ve laid the foundation with the strategic plan, but of course there will be different needs in the community in the coming years,” he explained.

“How we as a fire service meet those needs will continue to be a challenge, and hopefully we can achieve the successes we’ve had, because we’ve got a lot of incredible people here at SFD.”

Even with his retirement looming at the end of March, Hackl said he’ll still be active in the community.

“I think what I’m going to do is step back and reorient myself. I will remain involved in the community in some ways,” he said.

“We have a great city here, and I look to stay involved in it.”

In addition to his work as a firefighter, the city noted that Hackl’s influence has extended into other areas, including health care, social services, education, safety and reconciliation.

City manager Jeff Jorgenson said the city is grateful for Hackl’s long and dedicated service and his eight years leading the department.

Saskatoon Fire Chief Morgan Hackl stands in a Pleasant Hill community garden as a fire inspector delivers notices to tent occupants on Oct. 3, 2023. (Lara Fominoff/650 CKOM)

“Saskatoon and area are stronger communities because of Chief Hackl’s vision. He has continuously taken a non-traditional approach to public safety initiatives and has embraced out-of-the-box thinking,” Jorgenson said in a statement.

“The development of the regional training facility, establishing the Overdose Outreach Team, and Saskatoon Fire Department’s whole-community approach to safety and well-being are operational examples of Chief Hackl’s leadership.”