Saskatoon man saves four from burning building

Joe Madden was just going to get a drink from a convenience store on the day he ended up saving four people from a burning building.

That happened last November. On Friday, the Saskatoon Fire Department honoured Madden with an Award of Merit for his bravery.

“I had just picked up my Big Gulp and I came out of the 7-Eleven and turned to the right. That’s when I saw the back of the house on fire,” Madden said. “ And I just immediately stopped the car.”

Madden works as a safety auditor and has worked with fire departments before during his career. When he saw the fire, he knew what he had to do. After calling 9-1-1, Madden went to see if anyone was in the building.

“I knew I had to get these people out so I just didn’t even think, I just ran to the door and woke the (main-floor) tenants up and got them out of the house,” said Madden.

Madden woke the first-floor tenants and took them to safety. It was Madden’s own experience living in a basement suite that made him check the side door for more tenants. Sure enough, someone was downstairs. In total, four people, a cat and a budgie were saved.

“The flames were about six feet away from me, I could feel the flames,” said Madden. “And I knew the gas meter was right there, so I knew time was a factor.”

Madden says he hasn’t kept in contact with those he saved, but hopes they are doing well.

Fire Chief Morgan Hackl said the department doesn’t encourage people to go into burning buildings, but rather to call the fire department. Instead, Madden’s quick decision created a positive outcome.

“It’s evident that he likely saved four people’s lives,” Hackl said. “The steps he took were very heroic. Because of his work experience, I believe it assisted in this situation. He had a positive impact in the community that day. He was a hero.”