{"id":2390,"date":"2026-09-18T16:26:29","date_gmt":"2026-09-18T23:26:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/chasi\/?p=2390"},"modified":"2026-09-18T16:31:48","modified_gmt":"2026-09-18T23:31:48","slug":"burn-injuries-in-underserved-communities-an-equity-lens-for-canadas-fire-services","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/chasi\/2026\/09\/18\/burn-injuries-in-underserved-communities-an-equity-lens-for-canadas-fire-services\/","title":{"rendered":"Burn Injuries in Underserved Communities: An Equity Lens for Canada\u2019s Fire Services"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\u00a0National Indigenous Fire Safety Council<\/a>. 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<\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n

CHASI\u2019s collaborations with the NIFSC, and many of their other research works, can be found on our NIFSC Publications page<\/a>. For questions about the NIFSC and their work, please visit their <\/a><\/em>contact page<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Burn Injuries in Underserved Communities: An Equity Lens for Canada\u2019s Fire Services<\/strong><\/h2>\n

By Len Garis & <\/em>Mandy Desautels<\/em><\/p>\n

Recent Canadian research examining burn injuries in underserved populations is offering fire services a clearer understanding of why certain communities face disproportionate fire\u2011related risks. The work, led by Dr. Catherine Liao, whose background includes more than a decade establishing community\u2011based burns and fire\u2011prevention programs in Sierra Leone, provides a grounded and practical lens for fire departments seeking to address inequities in fire safety. Her doctoral research at the University of British Columbia focuses on First Nations communities and people living in unstable housing\u2014two groups that experience significantly higher burn\u2011injury burdens and whose experiences have historically been under\u2011represented in fire\u2011service literature.<\/p>\n

Burn injuries are among the most preventable forms of trauma encountered by fire services. Yet despite advances in fire safety, burn care, and prevention technologies, the distribution of risk remains uneven. The communities most affected by burns often face broader social and material disadvantages that shape their exposure to fire hazards, their ability to prevent injuries, and their access to care after an incident. Understanding these structural conditions is essential for fire services seeking to reduce harm and improve outcomes.<\/p>\n

Structural Inequities in First Nations Communities<\/strong><\/h3>\n

National data show that Indigenous Peoples in Canada experience fire\u2011related mortality at rates several times higher than non\u2011Indigenous populations, with the risk increasing further for First Nations people living on reserves. This disparity is not new, but the research brings renewed attention to the structural conditions that sustain it.<\/p>\n

Several factors contribute to elevated fire risk in First Nations communities:<\/p>\n