Firefighters respond to blaze at Bethlehem Catholic High School in Saskatoon

Emergency crews responded to a structure fire at Bethlehem Catholic High School in Saskatoon on Friday evening around 10:30 p.m. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered heavy smoke and intense flames emanating from the construction area adjacent to the school. Multiple hose lines were deployed to extinguish the blaze, prompting fire command to issue a second alarm.

The school board, Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools (GSCS), has indicated that it is premature to assess the impact of the fire on the start of the school year. However, they have confirmed that the new portable classrooms sustained substantial damage, alongside water and smoke damage in other parts of the building. In an email to the school community, the principal reported these damages and emphasized that a thorough assessment of the school's condition would be conducted once it is deemed safe to do so.

School officials are awaiting further details from the fire crews before deciding on any measures for the upcoming academic year. A fire investigator has been dispatched to the scene to determine the cause of the fire and estimate the extent of the damage. The fire department has stated that additional information will be provided as it becomes available.