NISHNAWBE ASKI NATION (NAN) – AMBER’S FIRE SAFETY CAMPAIGN

Amber’s Fire Safety Campaign includes a 10-point Action Plan detailing responsibilities, timelines and estimated costs. Action items:

1. INAC to consult with NAN First Nations regarding funding and legislation
2. Develop a Fire Protection Strategy for NAN communities
3. Establish a funding model based on identified needs
4. Build First Nation capacity to manage fire protection and prevention
5. Develop a regional First Nations fire protection authority
6. Implement a communications protocol for government fire policy and legislation
7. Establish long-term commitment for Amber’s Fire Safety Campaign
8. Implement Wood Energy Technology Training for all NAN First Nations
9. Utilize partnerships with municipalities to conduct training initiatives
10. Build upon INAC’s Be Fire Safe program and Amber’s Fire Safety Campaign smoke detector initiatives

Dec, 05, 2017 – NAN’s submission to INACs Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs to provide insight and recommendations on the Committee’s study Fire Safety and Emergency Management in Indigenous Communities. NAN’s submission included the 10-point Action Plan above as well as several additional recommendations to improve fire safety and emergency management in NAN First Nations, and calls on the federal government to:

1. Provide funding and resources for the implementation of the Amber’s Fire Safety Action Plan for NAN First Nations.
2. Provide funding, resources and enforcement to ensure that all homes and infrastructure meet national building and fire codes, as per funding agreements.
3. Support and establish an Independent Fire Marshal Office for First Nation communities to assist First Nations communities with safety and prevention through establishing fire safety standards and performing regular inspections.
4. Reinstate the tracking of fires on-reserve and create a detailed database of deaths, infrastructure loss and other fire-related incidents and response for use in analytics for the evaluation of fire protection and prevention measures and approaches.
5. Explore the development of a trilateral process between NAN and the governments of Canada and Ontario to review the provincial Fire Prevention and Protection Act (1997) in order to provide equitable fire prevention services and protection under the rule of law.