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Fighting Flames Before They Ignite: A Call to Action for Fire Prevention in Vulnerable and Indigenous Communities
By Len Garis and Mandy Desautels
Residential fires remain a silent public health crisis in Canada—causing preventable deaths, injuries, and property loss, especially in marginalized and Indigenous communities. It is no coincidence that these fires disproportionately affect those already at the intersection of socioeconomic inequality, housing precarity, and systemic neglect.
A comprehensive systematic review by Al-Hajj, Desapriya, Pawliuk, Garis, and Pike (2022), titled Interventions for Preventing Residential Fires in Vulnerable Neighbourhoods and Indigenous Communities, offers a timely and evidence-based roadmap to address this crisis. Drawing on 81 studies from multiple high-income countries, the authors categorize fire prevention efforts using the “4 E’s” framework: Education, Engineering, Enforcement, and Engagement.
Their message is clear: fire prevention must be tailored, multi-pronged, and rooted in equity if it is to be effective—especially in communities most at risk.
Education: Knowledge Is Power, But Not Always Action
Nearly one-third of the reviewed studies focused on educational strategies—ranging from community campaigns and home visits to school-based fire safety programs. These interventions often led to short-term improvements in awareness, such as increased knowledge of escape planning or safe cooking habits.
However, as Al-Hajj et al. (2022) caution, education alone rarely results in lasting behavior change unless it’s reinforced over time and paired with other forms of intervention. For vulnerable and Indigenous communities, educational materials must also be culturally relevant, linguistically appropriate, and accessible to those with limited formal education.
For example, several programs that engaged Indigenous youth through storytelling and local languages saw increased engagement compared to generic pamphlet-based campaigns. Education can spark awareness—but only when delivered meaningfully.
Engineering: Saving Lives with Technology and Design
Smoke alarms and home sprinkler systems are among the most effective tools in residential fire prevention. According to the review, the presence of working smoke alarms can reduce fire- related fatalities by up to 50%, and sprinkler systems—though less common—can contain fires at their source in nearly 97% of incidents (Al-Hajj et al., 2022; National Fire Protection Association, 2021).
Yet, the review also highlights a stark inequity in access to these life-saving technologies. Many homes in low-income or remote Indigenous communities lack functioning smoke alarms or have no fire suppression systems at all. Moreover, improper installation and lack of maintenance often render even the best devices useless.
Community-based programs where fire services or local volunteers install and test alarms have shown promise. Engineering solutions work—but they must be equitably distributed, maintained, and supported by infrastructure investment.
Enforcement: Laws That Live on Paper or in Practice?
Strong fire codes and housing regulations are essential, but without enforcement, they remain little more than good intentions. The review outlines those jurisdictions with strict, actively enforced building codes see lower fire mortality rates. However, marginalized communities— especially renters in substandard housing—often fall through the cracks of regulation.
In many rural and remote Indigenous communities, enforcement capacity is limited. There may be no local fire department, no inspection authority, and no consequence for landlords who flout fire safety regulations. Al-Hajj et al. (2022) stress the need for funded, community-based enforcement mechanisms, ideally developed in partnership with Indigenous governance structures.
Engagement: Trust Is the Ultimate Catalyst
One of the most important—and often overlooked—factors in successful fire prevention is community engagement. Programs that work with residents rather than for them consistently produce better outcomes. This is especially true in Indigenous communities, where historical mistrust of outside authorities can undermine well-intentioned interventions.
The review praises initiatives that involve Elders, community health workers, or Indigenous fire safety advocates in designing and delivering programs. For instance, home visit programs where community members install alarms and provide education have shown significant improvements in both trust and compliance.
As the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council (NIFSC) continues to build out Indigenous-led fire safety frameworks, it is clear that self-determination is key. Fire prevention cannot be imposed—it must be co-created.
Recommendations: From Evidence to Action
This systematic review is not just an academic exercise—it is a call to action. The authors recommend a multi-level approach that incorporates all “4 E’s” while centering equity and cultural responsiveness.
Here are some specific policy recommendations drawn from the review:
- Fund comprehensive fire safety programs that combine education, engineering upgrades (e.g., alarm installations), and community outreach, especially in under-served areas.
- Mandate and enforce fire codes in all residential buildings, including remote Indigenous housing, and provide the resources necessary for implementation.
- Support Indigenous-led fire prevention initiatives, including training, capacity building, and integration of traditional knowledge.
- Track fire incidents and outcomes by socio-demographic variables to identify high-risk communities and target interventions more effectively.
Ultimately, fire safety is a public health issue, a housing justice issue, and a reconciliation issue. It intersects with poverty, colonialism, and systemic disinvestment. Addressing it means addressing these root causes, not just the flames they ignite.
Conclusion: Fires Are Preventable. Inequity Shouldn’t Be Fatal.
The work of Al-Hajj, Desapriya, Pawliuk, Garis, and Pike makes one thing abundantly clear: residential fires are not random acts of fate. They are the predictable outcomes of structural inequality and policy inaction. But they are also eminently preventable.
By implementing the evidence-based strategies outlined in this review, and by committing to culturally safe, community-led interventions, we can change the future of fire prevention in Canada. Indigenous communities and other vulnerable groups deserve more than alarms—they deserve equity, empowerment, and safety.
It’s time to turn down the heat — not just with technology, but with justice.
Authors
Len Garis is director of research for the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council, Ret. Fire Chief for the city of Surrey, B.C., associate scientist emeritus with the B.C. Injury Research and Prevention Unit, and adjunct professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice and associate to the Centre for Social Research at the University of the Fraser Valley. Contact him at lwgaris@outlook.com.
Mandy Desautels is Chief Administrative Officer at the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council, a project of the Aboriginal Firefighters Association of Canada. Prior to joining NIFSC, she worked for BC Emergency Health Services and prominent NGOs. Contact her at mandy.desautels@indigenousfiresafety.ca.