Utoo Radio - August 15 2024 - A new Statistics Canada study by The National Indigenous Fire Safety Council (NIFSC) Project and funded by Indigenous Services Canada, reveals a concerning picture of fire-related deaths and injuries among Indigenous peoples in Canada.

The study uses the 2011 Canadian Census Health and Environment Cohort (CanCHEC) database, revealing that Indigenous peoples are over 5 times more likely to die in a fire compared to the rest of the population, with the number increasing to over 10 times for First Nations people living on reserve.

Inuit are over 17 times more likely to die in a fire than non-Indigenous people. The NIFSC Project has launched nearly 80 programs and services to provide training and ongoing support to over 650 First Nations communities in Canada, including education, support, and training in community fire safety, governance support, infrastructure and engineering support, fire department management, fire investigation services, and fire department operations.

The project aims to improve fire-related mortality and morbidity among Indigenous Peoples through more accurate data collection and the creation of the National Incident Reporting System (NIRS).