Fire at former lighthouse building in Saskatoon displaces 38 people

Thirty-eight people in Saskatoon have been left homeless after a fire at Aegis Holistic Renewal, formerly known as the Lighthouse, on the corner of Second Avenue and 20th Street.

Firefighters responded to a report of 911 bells ringing around 6 p.m. Wednesday. In a news release, the Saskatoon Fire Department said the fire was caused by an electrical fault in a hidden beam space between floors.

The fire was extinguished and no one was injured, but four suites were damaged.

Twila Reddekopp, director of Aegis Holistic Renewal, said the 38 displaced people were moved from the supported housing tower to the independent living tower in the same complex.

“People who are independent living are back in their suites. For the people who are assisted living, we have enough empty rooms on the independent tower side so we can move the people who are assisted living there and we will provide services in that building,” she said.

“Everyone is doing well. We have (the displaced) in our old shelters for now until we can move them to the other side tomorrow,” Reddekopp said Thursday.

According to the fire department, the damage is estimated at $150,000.