Doug Wegren says Saskatoon Fire overdose calls rise by about 400

Saskatoon fire Chief Doug Wegren told city council on Wednesday that overdose calls were about 400 higher in 2026 than at the same point last year as of May 25. He said crews have averaged 11 overdoses a day since the start of the year, and the workload has already pushed fire stations to rotate crews out of the busiest locations.

Wegren said the surge was not steady. During a spike between April and May, crews responded to more than 20 overdoses a day, a pace that put more pressure on the department’s daily run of calls. His update came after councillor Randy Donauer asked for a report on overdoses in Saskatoon during Wednesday’s city council meeting.

Doug Wegren at city council

Wegren described the call volume as taxing and linked it to the department’s staffing pattern at the stations handling the most emergencies. The rotation out of those stations shows the department is adjusting where crews are placed to keep up with the higher demand.

That adjustment leaves crews responding while also being moved around the system, with the busiest stations carrying the heaviest load. The figure he gave to council also set a clear benchmark: by May 25, Saskatoon had already logged about 400 more overdoses than at the same point in 2025.

April and May spike

The April-to-May spike stands out because it pushed the daily total above 20 calls, well over the year-to-date average of 11. Donauer’s request for an update suggests the council is tracking how the rising workload is affecting city services, not just the overdose numbers themselves.

For residents, the practical takeaway is simple: emergency crews are handling a heavier overdose load than they were earlier in the year, and the department is already shifting resources inside the city to meet it. Wegren’s numbers point to a system under strain, with the busiest stations feeling it first.