Saskatoon firefighters beat back fire at under-construction hotel

Flames and smoke shot from the roof of an under-construction hotel building on Lorne Avenue and Circle Drive Wednesday morning.

Mark Kincade said he was on his way to work when he saw the smoke and called 911. 

He said at first, it was just smoke. But soon he saw flames. 

"You could just really feel the heat. I was fairly close but I just didn't realize the amount of heat that comes off of those things and what it looks like in real life. It's really quite scary," Kincade said. 

Kincade said when he arrived on site, he notified a construction worker who was working on the site. The building was supposed to be a Sandman Hotel. 

Seven fire trucks responded to the building just before 6:30 a.m. CST, according to the Saskatoon Fire Department.

At first, firefighters saw smoke coming from the building's fifth floor. Eventually, they saw flames on the third and fourth floor as well.

Ladder trucks were set up to spray down the outside of the hotel, trying to knock the flames back.

Firefighters heard two explosions, likely from propane tank space heaters.

By mid-morning the fire department said the fire was under control. 

But an evening update said the building was structurally unstable, preventing firefighters from extinguishing embers deep inside the building. The site is being monitored for flare-ups.

A spokesperson said buildings under construction are especially vulnerable to fire.

"Once [the building] is completed, we have all the fire protection measures, sprinkler systems, alarm systems and fire separation," said Assistant Fire Chief Wayne Rodgers. "Those are still under construction and their ability to function certainly is challenged."

Traffic restrictions in the area have been lifted.​