Feds say 'no willing partners' to bring fire codes onto First Nations — including AFN

The federal government does not have a willing partner to find a way to introduce fire codes on First Nation reserves, a newly released document shows.

The federal government does not have a willing partner to find a way to introduce fire codes on First Nation reserves, a newly released document shows.

The senior director for the Indigenous Fire Marshal Service, however, says there are steps Ottawa can take now to better protect communities.

"Doing nothing is not an option," said Blaine Wiggins. "Analyzing the problem that they already know is not an option."

A meeting scenario note for Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu, obtained by The Canadian Press through access-to-information legislation, details some of the sticking points the department says it has run into when it comes to improving fire prevention.

The note was prepared ahead of an anticipated meeting with Assembly of First Nations National Chief RoseAnne Archibald last October.

For decades, house fires on First Nations have caused deaths and injuries at a much higher rate than off-reserve. Experts say that's due to of a range of factors, from insufficient housing and overcrowding to improper education and funding for fire prevention and suppression services.

Another major gap is that national and provincial building and fire codes do not apply to structures on First Nations. That means it is up to communities to pass their own bylaws.