Fire at Saskatoon apartment complex Sunday night forces evacuation of tenants from 26 units

Debra White says she knew it wasn't a false alarm when she stepped out of her third-floor apartment at St. James Place around 8 p.m. CST on Sunday.

"When the fire alarm went off and I walked out, I could hardly see to walk, that thick," she said.

"And I'm on third floor and the fire was in the basement, so you can imagine."

White has lived in the apartment complex for more than a decade. She said there have been alarms going off in the past, but they were false. That wasn't the case on Sunday.

In a news release, the fire department said it got the call Sunday evening about alarm bells ringing in the 3100 block of 33rd Street West inside a multi-residential complex.

"Upon arrival, fire crews determined a fire in the basement suite of building B of an apartment complex. First arriving firefighters initiated an exterior extinguishment.  All incoming fire crews were assigned their tactical duties," the release said.

The release said one man was injured and taken to hospital. There was no word Monday on the man's condition.

The tenants had to be kept out of the building overnight because the fire damaged pipes in the basement. 

White returned Monday.

"I just talked to the building manager and he said we were allowed to come back in," she said.

"I'm all shook up, still."