Delores Kakegamic says she is tired of losing children to house fires in her community.
Sandy Lake head says that the first nation is mourning for the loss of an 11 -year -old boy for a fire fire that happened on Thursday afternoon.
“Our firefighters have no team. If they had a team, they would have been able to go beyond the house, but with all the smoke, they could only go a couple of seconds at the same time,” Kakegamic said.
The house belonged to the Marshal of Firefighters of the Community, he said. A fire shield in the house gave them enough time to get the rest of the children. Many of the occupants were treated at the Nursing station for smoke inhalation.
Sandy Lake First Nation is an OJI-CREE community located in Treaty 5, about 600 kilometers northwest of Thunder Bay, Ontario. Kakegamic says that some 3,500 people live there.
There are two fire trucks in the first nation, but only one is functional, he said.
Our firefighters have no equipment. If they had a team, they would have been able to go beyond the house, but with all the smoke, they could only go a couple of seconds at the same time.– Delores Kakegamic, head of Sandy Lake First Nation
Nishnawbe Aski’s police service (NAPS) told CBC News in an email that nine occupants escaped from the fire, which was reported shortly after 5 pm on Thursday.
“When the officers arrived at the scene, the community fire suppression efforts were already ongoing. A scene is celebrated and the members of the Northwest Crime Unit of the NAPS are now involved in the ongoing investigation,” said Naps Scott Paradis on Friday morning.
The community continues to afflict the death of an infant garden student in a House fire at the end of FebruaryKakegamic said.
In January 2022, three children, four, six and nine, He also died in a fire in the house in Sandy Lake.
In autumn, Lake Sandy He filed a lawsuit against the federal government, together with Oneida Nation of the Thames, on the financing of Canada’s fire services in the first nations.
“We can say what we want, but it never comes,” Kakegamic said about the resources he has been asking.
CBC News has communicated with the indigenous services of Canada for a response about Thursday’s fire in Sandy Lake First Nation and is waiting for an answer.
Fire prevention, planning
People living in the first nations are about 10 times more chances of dying in a fire fire that those living in other communities in the country, According to Statistics Canada.
Arnold Lazare, who lives in Kahnawà: Ke, which is the interim CEO of the National Council of Indigenous Fire Security. While Thursday’s cause of Thursday’s fire in Sandy Lake is unknown at this time, he said that most fire -related deaths in remote communities can be attributed to the lack of smoke detectors, a shortage of fire and crowded fire and housing services.
“You end up getting a perfect storm where you have several people, several families in a underestimated house without a smoke detector,” he said.
While much of his work involves delivering smoke detectors to communities, he said, the most important thing is education on fire prevention.
For example, Lazare said people often eliminate smoke detectors when they cook and do not return them.
“There must be a public education process in which the family is aware of what to do, mainly children and the elderly who are the most vulnerable,” said Lazare.
It encourages all homes to create a fire security plan, so that all members know where to locate emergency exits and have a meeting place outside in case a fire occurs.
“We know that by continuing on this path, we will reduce the number of deaths related to fire,” he said.
‘Firefighters are traumatized’
At the time of Thursday’s fire, Kakegamic said approximately half of Sandy Lake’s firefighters participated in the training outside the community.
In addition to a better team, he said he wants to see more mental health support for those who keep the community safe.
“Firefighters are traumatized,” he said. “They are allowed to deal with that on their own and they are spending a difficult time.”
With a new federal government in power, and First indigenous parliamentarian to hold the position of Minister of Indigenous Services – Lazare said he feels hopeful that federal funds can be better assigned to meet the needs of the first nations.
Providing resources at the community level is key, he said.
“Part of our plan is to advocate not for an increase in financing, because we realize that financing is brief, but what we defend is a more effective use of the dollars that are there,” he said. “Empuera to the community.”
Mental health advice and crisis support are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week through the Hope For Wellness direct line in 1-855-242-3310 or per chat online at www.hopforwellness.ca.
