Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
National

Six Nations Braces For Worst As Fire Department Struggles To Stay Afloat

The Canadian Press, 12 Jul, 2015 12:40 PM
    TORONTO — A string of suspected arsons, inexperienced volunteer staff and a truck ladder that isn't high enough hasn't stopped the fire department at Canada's most populated First Nation from scraping by.
     
    But as the Six Nations of the Grand River unit in southwestern Ontario grapples with relentless emergency calls, regular staff turnover and a constant struggle to make ends meet, its fire chief says he's bracing for an inevitable disaster.
     
    Matthew Miller said his department has about twice the call volume and one third of the funding as similarly sized municipalities, even though federal government statistics show First Nations people on reserves are about 10 times more likely to die in fires.
     
    "As it is right now, we're barely hanging on by a thread," Miller said of serving the on-reserve population of about 12,000.
     
    "Essentially what's happening is everybody is getting exhausted and pushed to their limits physically and mentally."
     
    The crew serving the First Nation consists of 21 part-time volunteers who have separate full-time jobs, and many haven't been properly trained.
     
    Miller said he usually gets two or three emergency calls every day — or about 700 per year — but if that number gets any higher, the department won't be able to handle it.
     
    "It's just a recipe for disaster, for something really bad to happen," he said.
     
    So far this year, the community has dealt with 10 house fires, a large chemical fire at its recycling facility and nine suspected arsons currently under investigation.
     
    Neighbouring departments are often called in to help with larger emergencies, something Miller called a "Band-Aid solution."
     
    Yasir Naqvi, the province's minister of community safety and correctional services,  toured Six Nations on June 6 to review its emergency services after receiving an invitation from Chief Ava Hill.
     
    Naqvi said he will be asking his federal counterparts to address the community's fire safety concerns, and Miller wrote to federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau about the issue on Wednesday.
     
    Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada said in a statement that it provides $26 million annually for fire protection on reserves across the country.
     
    "Our regional office is in regular contact with the Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation," it said.
     
    "We also know that education and awareness play an integral role in fire safety and we will continue to work with First Nation communities and provide annual funding (to fire education organizations)."
     
    Miller said First Nations across Canada are facing the same issues because there is no legislative framework to mandate fire prevention and protection like there is for most off-reserve communities.
     
    "First Nations receive funding for fire protection only, not what every other fire service in the world does," he said.
     
    "If you're in a car accident and you get trapped in your car, we could put the fire out, but we're not funded to get you out of your car."
     
    Blaine Wiggins with the Aboriginal Firefighters Association of Canada agreed, saying the reason why so many aboriginal people are dying in fires is simple, but answering why the system is failing them is not.
     
    "Here we are trying to do what's normal in the fire service but we can't compete," he said.
     
    "(First Nations) are just kind of left to develop and try to meet what the community can afford to meet, versus what is an established standard that all communities would have to meet."

    MORE National ARTICLES

    SIU Identifies Drowned Man In Ottawa As Suspect In London Cellphone Death

    SIU Identifies Drowned Man In Ottawa As Suspect In London Cellphone Death
    The Special Investigations Unit says the body has been identified as Muhab Sultanaly Sultan, 23, who went into the Rideau River last week, fell under and never surfaced.

    SIU Identifies Drowned Man In Ottawa As Suspect In London Cellphone Death

    FIFA: Talent Level At Women's World Cup Higher Than It Was Four Years Ago

    FIFA: Talent Level At Women's World Cup Higher Than It Was Four Years Ago
    The sport's governing body expanded the field at the 2015 Women's World Cup to 24 teams from the 16 that participated in Germany four years ago, and despite some lopsided scores in the group stage officials are confident the move was the right one.

    FIFA: Talent Level At Women's World Cup Higher Than It Was Four Years Ago

    Decision On Mount Polley Mine Reopening Is Imminent, Says B.C. Mines Minister

    WILLIAMS LAKE, B.C. — British Columbia's energy minister says a gold and copper mine that shut down last year after its tailings pond collapsed could be back up and running in a matter of days.

    Decision On Mount Polley Mine Reopening Is Imminent, Says B.C. Mines Minister

    Patrick Brazeau's Assault Trial Adjourned Until Mid-september

    Patrick Brazeau's Assault Trial Adjourned Until Mid-september
    GATINEAU, Que. — The assault trial of suspended senator Patrick Brazeau has been adjourned until mid-September.

    Patrick Brazeau's Assault Trial Adjourned Until Mid-september

    Fingerprints Remain Stable Over Time, Indian-Origin Professor Finds

    Fingerprints Remain Stable Over Time, Indian-Origin Professor Finds
    In what could put an end to controversies surrounding admissibility of fingerprint evidence in courts of law, a study by an Indian-origin researcher has found that fingerprint pattern remains stable over time.

    Fingerprints Remain Stable Over Time, Indian-Origin Professor Finds

    Alberta's Industrial Heartland Welcomes NDP Approach To Oil And Gas Processing

    Alberta's Industrial Heartland Welcomes NDP Approach To Oil And Gas Processing
    CALGARY — Alberta's NDP government has made it clear it would prefer to see less of Alberta's resources ripped and shipped, and more processed into higher value products at home.

    Alberta's Industrial Heartland Welcomes NDP Approach To Oil And Gas Processing