The Saskatoon Fire Department extinguished nearly back-to-back fires on Tuesday night, which caused a combined $350,000 in damage between a house fire and a blaze in a commercial business's yard.

Firefighters started at the yard fire about 40 minutes after it was reported to them, but the blaze still managed to cause $300,000 in damage. 

Several callers notified the fire department of flames behind a building in the 1900 block of Ontario Avenue (near the intersection of Circle Drive and Idylwyld Drive North) at 7:30 p.m. One caller said the flames appeared to be as high as 30 feet (9 metres). 

Pictures show a fire splayed out across the yard, with black smoke blanketing parts of the sky. 

The fire department responded with three fire engines, a rescue unit, a ladder truck and the Battalion Chief. 

Firefighters cut through the fence to find the fire engulfing a shipping container, with motorcycles, wood pallets and landscape fabric inside.

The fire was out shortly after 8 p.m. and completely under control by 8:25, the fire department said. 

Employees at the business used a skid steer to help spread items around the yard to ensure the fire had been completely extinguished.

A fire investigator determined that the blaze caused about $300,000 in damage. 

While the investigator said they were uncertain how the fire was caused, they said it started with some pallets which then spread across the yard.

The fire department was at a second blaze Tuesday night as well: a house fire on the 200 block of Clarence Avenue South.

The fire, found to be started by a "careless disposal of smoking material" outside the front step of the house, caused about $50,000 in damage.

A group of three fire engines, one ladder unit, one rescue unit and the Battalion Chief also went to this call.

The first arriving firefighters found fire coming from the roof. They checked fire conditions after starting to extinguish flames from inside and outside the home.

Crews had to cut stucco from the walls to cool the area after heat seemed to be emanating from the walls.

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