Snowmobiles used for rescues in Saskatoon's 'worst storm'

It was a night of dramatic rescues for Saskatoon emergency crews Wednesday, as one of the worst blizzards in years paralyzed the city and left hundreds of people strandedat the airport, at businesses and in cars.

"It's by far the worst storm I've ever seen here," said Saskatoon Environment Canada meteorologist Larry Flysak.

For the first time in memory, city firefighters and ambulance crews were using snowmobiles, borrowed from a local dealership, to get to people trapped in snowbound vehicles.

One couple from Quebec was particularly grateful when firefighters found them seven kilometres outside the city on Highway 16.

They had been stuck in the ditch for about seven hours and had been keeping the engine running to stay warm. However, the car had run out of gas by the time they were rescued.

Battalion Chief Wes Pool said his firefighters pulled 11 people out of cars and trucks inside and outside the city.

"I'd never seen smiles as big as that in my life," Pool said.

Crews alsochecked dozens of cars that had been abandoned to make sure no one was left inside.

Flights were cancelled at the Saskatoon airport and the visibility was so bad about 350 people had to stay inside. One of the stranded travellers was a 93-year-old man in a wheelchair.

One woman in her car got lost in the parking lot. She phoned people in the terminal who were able to locate her and bring her inside.

About 50 people were stranded in a Saskatoon Wal-Mart until the storm lightened up earlyThursday. Staff set up air mattresses so the refugees from the storm could get some sleep.

"We had food and beverages and stuff like that, so it wasn't too bad," store manager Sheldon Thurston said.

The blizzard also wreaked havoc throughout central Saskatchewan Wednesday, closing highways and stranding truck drivers and other motorists.

Winds have died down, but the province is in the grips of temperatures that have dipped well below 30 Cin many areas.

Classes at all public and Catholic schools in Saskatoon were cancelled Thursday.