This article is part of a series of posts led by CHASI Research Associate Len Garis, who has been a long-time partner of CHASI through his work with the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council. His guest blog posts explore a wide range of topics related to firefighting and firefighters in Canada. You can read all of his guest articles at this link.
CHASI’s collaborations with the NIFSC, and many of their other research works, can be found on our NIFSC Publications page. For questions about the NIFSC and their work, please visit their contact page.
Advancing Indigenous Fire Safety: Building a Community‑Driven Framework for Knowledge, Capacity, and Action
By Len Garis & Mandy Desautels
Fire safety in Indigenous communities across Canada is entering a new era—one shaped not by external prescriptions, but by community‑driven knowledge, culturally grounded processes, and a commitment to long‑term capacity building. The National Indigenous Fire Safety Council (NIFSC), working in partnership with the BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit (BCIRPU), has developed a Fire Safety and Prevention Knowledge and Translation Framework that aims to transform how fire safety information is gathered, understood, and acted upon in First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities.
The framework is built on a simple but powerful premise: effective fire safety begins with listening. As the report notes, community‑based fire research “depends on two important variables: the capacity to generate good information, and the extent to which information is understood and constructed as a two‑way relationship.” This two‑way relationship—between researchers, fire service leaders, and community members—forms the backbone of a new approach to fire prevention and fire service development in Indigenous communities.
This article explores that framework, the challenges identified by key participants, and the opportunities ahead as the NIFSC prepares to pilot this model in communities across Canada.
A Framework Rooted in Indigenous Process and Community Voice
The Fire Safety and Prevention Knowledge and Translation Framework was developed under the leadership of Dr. Ian Pike, who at the time served as Director of the BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit (BCIRPU). Dr. Pike—now retired—brought decades of injury‑prevention expertise and a trauma‑informed lens to this work. His guidance shaped the project’s emphasis on safety, respect, and emotional awareness. As the report notes, participants “may have experienced trauma or loss from fire or burns, and may need support if feeling distressed during this information gathering process.”
Dr. Pike’s long history of trauma‑informed injury research ensured that the framework recognized the emotional realities communities may face when discussing fire, burns, and loss. This sensitivity is woven throughout the framework’s design, reinforcing that fire safety research in Indigenous communities must honour lived experience, respect cultural protocols, and create safe spaces for dialogue.
The Framework is organized into four interconnected phases:
1. Establishing the Path (Assessment)
This phase focuses on understanding the current situation—existing fire risks, protective factors, behaviours, and community priorities. Leadership engagement is essential here. Fire Chiefs, operations and maintenance managers, Directors, and Councils provide foundational situational knowledge that shapes the rest of the process.
2. Engaging the Voices (Capacity)
This phase brings the broader community into the conversation. Through surveys, gatherings, sharing circles, and small‑group discussions, communities articulate their priorities, concerns, and lived experiences. The report emphasizes that gatherings should allow people to “continue the dialogue at the same table, as equals.’”
3. Looking to the Future (Planning)
Communities determine priorities for action, identify available resources, and explore new opportunities. Planning aligns fire safety goals with community values, governance structures, and long‑term sustainability.
4. Sharing the Knowledge (Implementation)
The final phase involves developing and implementing a community fire safety plan. This includes public education, equipment needs, sustainability planning, and evaluation. Implementation is a cycle of learning, adapting, and strengthening.
Together, these phases form a flexible, culturally sensitive framework that can be adapted to the needs and capacity of each community.
Tools Designed for Community‑Level Fire Safety Knowledge Gathering
The report includes several draft tools intended to support communities in gathering fire safety information:
- Key Participant Interview Guide
- Fire Safety Leadership Survey
- Fire Safety Community Survey
These tools capture perspectives from leadership, frontline responders, and community members. They address topics such as fire prevention, response capacity, residential fire risks, wildfire experiences, risks among elders and youth, community priorities, and resource availability.
Key participants emphasized that surveys alone are insufficient—low response rates, survey fatigue, and limited internet access can hinder data collection. Instead, community gatherings, sharing circles, and in‑person dialogue were identified as the most effective methods.
Key Participant Insights: Funding, Capacity, and Community Buy‑In
Interviews with key participants reveal several recurring themes familiar to fire service leaders across Canada.
1. Chronic Underfunding and Structural Barriers
Participants highlighted long‑standing funding challenges:
- Flex funding can be diverted to other priorities.
- Small communities often have fewer staff wearing multiple hats.
- Fire trucks scheduled for replacement every 20 years may see little use but still require costly upgrades.
- Personal protective equipment can cost $4,000 per set—or $13,000 including SCBA—and must be replaced every 10 years.
- Fire funding levels from Indigenous Services Canada are “30‑years old.”
These realities create significant barriers to building and sustaining fire departments that meet modern standards.
2. Training and Capacity Development
Participants stressed the need for:
- More training for fire officers
- More practical training for firefighters
- Support for volunteers facing literacy or language barriers
- In‑community training to reduce travel burdens
- Youth engagement through junior firefighter programs and arson intervention initiatives
- On‑the‑job training programs for high school graduates
One jurisdiction’s use of real‑time translation during training significantly improved both participation and course outcomes—an example of culturally responsive practice that could be replicated elsewhere.
3. Community Buy‑In and Relationship Building
Perhaps the most important insight: community buy‑in is essential.
Participants emphasized that fire staff and leadership must show genuine interest in the community by:
- Attending local events
- Supporting elders
- Participating in Fire Prevention Week activities
- Hosting open houses and BBQs
- Conducting voluntary home safety inspections
- Building trust through visibility and engagement
Volunteer firefighters were described as vital: “Spend with volunteer firefighters; set them up with proper equipment and training.”
Challenges in Establishing Priorities
Communities often face competing priorities: housing, health, education, emergency response, and infrastructure. Even when fire safety is recognized as important, political and funding barriers can impede action.
Many communities have emergency response plans and 5–10‑year strategic plans, but fire departments are not always fully integrated into these processes. Participants also stressed the need for more Indigenous people in regulatory and oversight positions—an important step toward culturally informed fire governance.
Piloting the Framework: Next Steps
The NIFSC is preparing to pilot the Fire Safety and Prevention Knowledge and Translation Framework in a small number of communities. Guided by the foundational work led by Dr. Pike and the BCIRPU team, the pilot phase will emphasize selecting communities that demonstrate readiness, interest, and the capacity to engage meaningfully in a collaborative fire‑safety planning process.
Selection will consider factors such as:
- Existing fire service structures or emerging fire safety initiatives
- Leadership interest in community‑driven fire safety planning
- Opportunities to test the framework in diverse geographic, cultural, and governance contexts
- The potential for lessons learned to be transferable to other communities across Canada
The next steps include:
- Reviewing the framework with the NIFSC Board
- Securing additional funding to support community engagement, travel, facilitation, and evaluation
- Engaging communities that express interest in participating in the pilot
The pilot phase will be essential for refining the tools, validating the framework’s cultural and operational fit, and demonstrating how community‑driven fire safety planning can be implemented effectively in real‑world settings.
Conclusion
The Fire Safety and Prevention Knowledge and Translation Framework represents a significant step forward in Indigenous fire safety. It is not simply a set of tools—it is a process rooted in respect, community voice, and cultural understanding. By centering Indigenous perspectives and prioritizing relationship‑based knowledge gathering, the framework offers a path toward stronger, safer, and more resilient communities.
As the NIFSC moves toward piloting this model, fire service leaders across Canada will have an opportunity to learn from and support a transformative approach—one that recognizes that fire safety is not only technical, but deeply social, cultural, and community‑driven.
Authors
Len Garis is director of research for the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council, Ret. Fire Chief for the city of Surrey, B.C., Research Associate – University of the Fraser Valley associate scientist emeritus with the B.C. Injury Research and Prevention Unit. Contact him at lwgaris@outlook.com.
Mandy Desautels is Chief Administrative Officer at the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council. Prior to joining NIFSC, she worked for BC Emergency Health Services and prominent NGOs. Contact her at mandy.desautels@indigenousfiresafety.ca