The Saskatoon Fire Department says, after months of action to improve living conditions at 1416, 20th Street West, it was left with no other option than to close the entire building known as Prairie Heights.
Assistant Chief Yvonne Raymer says, “Despite our efforts to ensure the building was safe, clean and not a fire hazard, we cannot get ahead of the constant vandalism, squatting, drug trade, risky and unhealthy behaviours.” She says they cannot allow people to live in the building until significant changes are made.
The latest inspection of the building revealed a water leak that is starting to seep through drywall and water pooling in the elevator shaft.
Raymer says, to protect further damage to the building they are closing it. Several agencies are involved in helping relocate the people who live here.
At 9 a.m. Thursday the Fire Department began advising occupants of the imminent closure. They will have until 2 p.m. to find rehousing.

The building is a condominium divided into several individual owners and currently has no organization like a condominium board actively working on their behalf. One person owns or controls 15 – roughly a third – of the 44 suites in the building. The estate of another individual owns 11 suites.

In 2020 SFD and SPS responded to the high-rise 109 times and 403 times respectively. This year to date, SFD has responded to the building 45 times; SPS has responded to the building 131 times.
The Ministry of Social Services is working with community partners to help impacted tenants who need assistance with housing or income support.
Emergency Measures Organization has been on site Thursday to ensure all involved are aware of the planning and processes for the day. Some of the other agencies ready to support and respond with SFD are:
• Saskatchewan Health Authority
• Salvation Army
• Saskatoon Tribal Council – Sawêyihtotân Project
• Saskatoon Police Service
Of the 44 units:
• 14 units will be affected by the closure
• Of the 14 affected units, 3 are owner occupied
• 30 suites are boarded and vacant
The condo owners will be given an opportunity to secure the site satisfactorily as per the SFD’s requirements of the National Fire Code and the Saskatoon Fire and Protective Services Bylaw 7990. SFD will secure properties if required.