Firefighting expert says First Nations need more resources

A firefighting specialist believes more needs to be done to prevent fires on First Nations.

Richard Kent, the commissioner of emergency and protective services for the Prince Albert Grand Council, pointed to two recent deaths in a Pelican Narrows house fire.

He told David Kirton these tragedies happen far too frequently.

“We need to make sure that our communities are safe, that our people are safe and our homes are safe,” Kent said.

He said resource shortages are a big problem.

“Unfortunately, I only have four staff for all of Saskatchewan, and we’ve got about 100 First Nations communities to train,” he explained.

Individual reserves also face staffing issues.

“With volunteer departments, it’s tough to get them into a building in time to save any occupants that happen to still be inside,” he said.

He has concerns about the quality of equipment and training firefighters have access to, but he thinks directly fighting fires should be a last resort.

“(It’s more important) that we have fire education and fire prevention,” Kent said. “If a fire truck rolls, we’ve already lost the battle.”

He placed special emphasis on education.

“Fire hazards aren’t there because homeowners don’t care,” he said. “It’s because they literally don’t know that’s a fire hazard.”