The Saskatoon Fire Department is invoicing a condo on 20th street for nearly $58,000 in safety repairs.
The Fire Department says for many months it has attempted to find various solutions to ensure living conditions at condominium units inside 1416 – 20th Street West are safe. This included, at the end of January, the fire department choosing to arrange for repairs to life safety systems, including fire alarms and a damaged sprinkler systems, rather than displace between 160 to 170 residents in the winter.
Alongside the city the fire department has issued the building’s condo board an invoice and letter with 30 days to pay for the earlier repairs made. With 42 units in the building the cost amounts to about $1400 per door.
Fire Chief Morgan Hackl says the contractors must be paid for their services to the condominium properties, and it’s not the responsibility of City taxpayers but the condo board and property owners. The costs include the Fire Department’s time to coordinate various contractors and the Saskatoon Police Service providing support to keep workers safe in the building during repairs. Hackl says the property is disproportionately demanding resources from the Fire Department and Police, reporting in 2020 fire crews responded to the high-rise 109 times, and to date this year 45 times.