Wednesday the Saskatoon Fire Department was still in the process of inspecting a second building on the City Centre Inn and Suites property and would offer an analysis as to whether it should be closed as well. Thursday fire officials announced they are closing the entire City Centre Inn and Suites because of unsafe and unsanitary living conditions.
Saskatoon Motel being shut down
There are 150 people living there including three children. Approximately seven teams will conduct door to door visits to each room to aid in relocation of the residents. There will be a health professional to conduct COVID -19 screening and testing, two or more outreach workers to assess the needs of those in the room and overall there will be over 50 staff resources deployed to the effort. Saskatoon Transit is providing transportation to the new locations for the residents. Four families have already been relocated and single adults will go either to a shelter, hotel or stay with family or friends for short term housing needs.
Assistant Chief Yvonne Raymer says support of government and community based partners allowed them to deal with the situation in roughly 48 hours. Assistant Chief Raymer says the most recent visit to 610 Idylwyld Drive North which involved four Fire Inspectors revealed an immediate hazard with issues such as unsafe and unsanitary conditions, locked exit doors, stairs at risk of collapse, combustible material too close to buildings, inaccessible fire extinguishers, too few and uninspected extinguishers, improper smoke alarm records and failure to maintain fire alarm systems.
The owner of the City Centre Inn and Suites has been ordered to remedy 34 deficiencies under the Property Maintenance and Nuisance Abatement Bylaw; and 27 deficiencies under the National Fire Code of Canada.
Staff Resources include:
10 – 12 members from the Saskatoon Tribal Council
Seven Ministry of Social Services members plus one supervisor
Five members from the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA)
Five members from The Salvation Army
Three members from AIDS Saskatoon
Three members from Saskatoon Housing Initiatives Partnership
Two members from Saskatchewan Housing Authority
Two members from the City of Saskatoon Emergency Management Organization
One member from Public Health
Canada Post is supporting the residents with change of address.
Meals, water and coffee for staff and displaced residents is being provided by the Salvation Army today.
The Saskatchewan Housing Authority is also on site to provide case management for longer term housing options.
