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First Nations Fire Protection Strategy

Oct 30, 2025 - Mar 19, 2026
OnlineOnline (Zoom)

Important Documents

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Registration Form
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About the Event First Nations Fire Protection Strategy (FNFPS)

The First Nations Fire Protection Strategy is built on six key pillars that address fire safety challenges and enhance emergency preparedness in First Nations communities. Each pillar will have its own designated webinar to develop implementation plans, outline priorities, and provide practical guidance.

  1. Fire Prevention Education & Outreach – Promotes awareness through fire safety education, training, and public outreach initiatives.
  2. Community Infrastructure & Engineering – Focuses on improving fire protection infrastructure, such as fire halls, hydrants, and water supply systems.
  3. Fire Department & Emergency Services – Enhances fire department capacity, training, and resources to improve response capabilities.
  4. Legislation & Fire Safety Standards – Advocates for fire codes, regulations, and enforcement mechanisms tailored to First Nation’s needs.
  5. Partnerships & Governance – Strengthens collaboration between First Nations, governments, and organizations to support sustainable fire protection.
  6. Funding, Reporting & Data Collection – Develops funding models and data-driven strategies to support long-term fire safety improvements.

These webinars will ensure each pillar is addressed with tailored strategies, engaging key stakeholders in developing actionable solutions. There will be a total of six webinars, unless more are needed, scheduled three weeks apart, beginning on October 30th and concluding on March 19th.

Who should attend?

  • First Nations Leadership
  • Fire Chiefs & Firefighters
  • Emergency Coordinators
  • Trainers & Technicians
  • First Nations Organizations & Partners
  • Tribal Councils

How to Attend Find out how to register.

Background and Objectives

The First Nations Fire Protection Strategy (FNFPS) is a national framework designed to enhance fire prevention, protection, and emergency preparedness in First Nations communities across Canada. Developed by the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) in collaboration with Indigenous leaders, fire service professionals, and government partners, the strategy aims to reduce fire-related fatalities, injuries, and property damage in First Nations communities, where fire risks are disproportionately high compared to non-Indigenous communities.

Why the Strategy is Needed?

First Nations communities face significantly higher fire risks due to several systemic challenges, including:

  • Limited fire protection infrastructure, such as fire stations and hydrants.
  • Inadequate housing conditions that increase fire hazards.
  • Geographic isolation, which delays emergency response times.
  • Underfunding for fire services, equipment, and training.
  • Lack of fire prevention education and awareness programs tailored to First Nations.

Key Goals of the Strategy

The FNFPS is built around six key pillars that guide action toward improving fire safety in First Nations:

  1. Fire Prevention and Public Education – Increasing awareness and education on fire risks, prevention, and home safety.
  2. Community Infrastructure and Response Capacity – Ensuring that First Nations have access to proper firefighting equipment, fire stations, and hydrant systems.
  3. Legislation and Governance – Advocating for the recognition of First Nations jurisdiction over fire safety and strengthening fire protection regulations.
  4. Fire Service Training and Certification – Expanding training programs to certify First Nations firefighters and emergency responders.
  5. Data Collection and Research – Improving data tracking on fire incidents to identify trends and areas for improvement.
  6. Funding and Partnerships – Securing sustainable funding for fire prevention initiatives, infrastructure, and emergency response programs.

Impact and Implementation

The First Nations Fire Protection Strategy (2023-2028) sets the foundation for long-term, sustainable improvements in fire safety and emergency response in First Nations communities. It emphasizes self-determination and community-led initiatives, recognizing that First Nations must have the resources and authority to implement fire safety solutions that meet their unique needs. The strategy also calls for collaboration between First Nations, federal and provincial governments, and fire protection organizations to close the fire safety gap and ensure all communities have the necessary tools to prevent and respond to fire emergencies effectively.

The objective of this webinar series project is to develop an implementation plan for the National Fire Strategy, outlining clear actions, priorities, and roles for each pillar. The plan will serve as a roadmap to enhance fire safety and emergency preparedness in First Nations communities. Additionally, a toolkit will be created to support implementation, providing practical resources, guidance, and best practices tailored to the needs of First Nations leadership, Fire Chiefs, firefighters, emergency coordinators, and trainers.

First Nations Fire Protection Strategy 

Call for Presenters

Fire Prevention Education & Outreach

Register Now

Promotes awareness through fire safety education, training, and public outreach initiatives.

Fire prevention begins with awareness, knowledge, and community leadership. This pillar of the First Nations Fire Protection Strategy (2023–2028) focuses on empowering First Nations to take proactive, community-driven approaches to fire and life safety through education and outreach.
 
By investing in culturally relevant fire safety education — from school programs and youth engagement to intergenerational learning and community awareness campaigns — we can prevent fires before they start. Fire prevention is more than teaching about hazards; it’s about reconnecting to traditional teachings, community responsibility, and collective care.
 
This session will highlight successful prevention initiatives, innovative training tools, and outreach models that reflect First Nations cultures, languages, and values. Participants will hear from experts and community leaders working on the front lines of fire prevention and will have the opportunity to share lessons learned and discuss practical ways to strengthen safety education at the local level.
 
Insights gathered through this discussion will directly contribute to the creation of a Fire Protection Toolkit, a national resource designed to help First Nations implement the Strategy in their communities. Together, through shared knowledge and collaboration, we are building safer, more resilient Nations for generations to come.
 
 

Community Infrastructure & Engineering

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Focuses on improving fire protection infrastructure, such as fire halls, hydrants, and water supply systems.

Safe and reliable infrastructure is the foundation of effective fire protection. This pillar focuses on ensuring that First Nations communities have the built environment, systems, and resources needed to prevent and respond to fires.
 
From fire halls and hydrants to access roads, water supply systems, and building codes, Community Infrastructure and Engineering addresses the physical and technical components of fire safety. Strengthening these systems not only improves emergency response but also supports broader goals of community resilience and sustainability.
 
This session will explore infrastructure challenges and innovations that impact fire safety — including housing design, water infrastructure, fire flow capacity, and climate resilience. Participants will hear from technical experts and community leaders on engineering solutions, best practices, and collaborative approaches to building safer community environments.
 
Discussions will help identify infrastructure gaps, policy needs, and funding priorities, ensuring that every First Nation has access to the essential infrastructure required to protect homes, families, and lands from fire risks.
 
Insights gathered will feed directly into the Fire Protection Toolkit, supporting First Nations in planning, designing, and maintaining fire-safe community infrastructure for generations to come.

 

Fire Department & Emergency Services

Register Now

Enhances fire department capacity, training, and resources to improve response capabilities.

Legislation & Fire Safety Standards

Register Now

Advocates for fire codes, regulations, and enforcement mechanisms tailored to First Nation’s needs.

Partnerships & Governance

Register Now

Strengthens collaboration between First Nations, governments, and organizations to support sustainable fire protection.

Funding, Reporting & Data Collection

Register Now

Develops funding models and data-driven strategies to support long-term fire safety improvements.

Contact Information

For additional information or assistance, please contact the AFN at [email protected].

Documents First Nations Fire Protection Strategy Documents

These are the latest documents for this event. Please check back here after the event for additional documents, or visit the Document Library for more.

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