Fire protection in First Nations communities
Find out more about how fire protection on reserve is funded.
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Funding for fire protection
First Nations band councils manage fire protection services on reserves, which can include:
- firefighting
- operating and maintaining fire halls
- buying fire trucks, firefighting tools and equipment
- training and educating firefighters and community members
Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) provides annual funding to First Nations that can be used for fire protection services as well as fire insurance. The level of funding is determined by regionally based formulas that take into consideration factors such as:
- number of buildings on a reserve
- remoteness
- population
In addition, there is a Level of Service Standards for Fire Protection that outlines a tiered funding approach based on the delivery of services by a community at each tier.
First Nations' band councils are best placed to determine how to use fire protection funds to run their own fire departments or to contract fire protection services from nearby communities. Some First Nations may choose to use fire protection funding on other priorities.
If a First Nation decides to contract with a nearby community, the First Nation is responsible for managing that agreement. First Nations that contract with local municipalities or enter into agreements with provincial bodies may also have access to 911 services.
Between 2016-2017 and 2024-2025, ISC provided an average of $54.6 million annually for fire protection. This included annual averages of:
- $14.4 million for capital investments, for example, fire trucks, fire halls, etc.
- $16.1 million for operations and maintenance of assets
- $5.1 million for firefighter training
- $19 million in targeted funding from Budgets 2013-2014, 2016-2017, 2017-2018, 2022-2023, 2024-2025 and the Canada Community-Building Fund.
First Nations band councils may request funding for capital investments or firefighter training though their First Nation Infrastructure Investment Plan.
First Nations Fire Protection Strategy, 2023 to 2028
The First Nations Fire Protection Strategy 2023 to 2028 was co-developed by the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and ISC. It was introduced at the inaugural AFN First Nations First Responders Gathering May 17 to 19, 2023.
The strategy reflects input from First Nations technical organizations, tribal councils, First Nations leadership, the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council and other fire service professionals, and builds upon the previous strategy while adding some additional priorities to align with modern fire safety challenges facing First Nations today.
The strategy also promotes the use of time-tested fire safety equipment that is known to save lives such as smoke and carbon monoxide alarm installations, fire extinguishers and home sprinkler systems. Some other examples of what the strategy promotes include:
- fire prevention education
- sharing of fire prevention best practices
- fire safety managers
- partnerships with local governments, First Nations technical organizations and First Nations to enhance community fire safety
- use of codes and standards though fire protection bylaws and band council resolutions
- use of dispatch or 911 systems applicable to communities' fire response needs
- use of minimum firefighter training standards
For fiscal year 2023 to 2024, ISC provided $10 million as an immediate step to support the objectives of the Fire Protection Strategy.
First Nations across Canada used this new funding to address community-identified fire safety priorities. This included:
- buying smoke alarms, fire extinguishers and carbon dioxide alarms for homes on reserves
- performing fire safety assessments, fire safety education and firefighting training
- conducting fire safety inspections
Budget 2024 proposes to provide $20.9 million over 3 years, starting in 2024 to 2025, for ISC to support the First Nations Fire Protection Strategy by distributing fire alarms and fire extinguishers to homes and community facilities on reserve, as well as assisting fire-related education programs.
National Firefighting Competition
Sponsored by ISC and organized by the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council, the National Firefighting Competition is an annual event aimed at celebrating and training First Nations firefighters.
Each summer there is a series of regional competitions, where teams of firefighters from First Nations communities across Canada have a chance to qualify for the national competition. Qualifying teams are chosen from British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, Nunavut and the Atlantic region to demonstrate their skills and abilities at the national competition.
At the national competition, teams compete in a series of challenges ranging from rolling hoses, fast coupling drills and replacing a burst length. Throughout the competition, participants also attend training sessions to improve their skills.
The National Firefighting Competition is a chance to showcase new firefighting techniques and technologies, exchange best practices between communities and increase awareness about fire prevention.
Find out more about the 2025 National Firefighting Competition, which was held during the 2025 Indigenous Public Safety Conference on October 25, 2025 in Calgary, Alberta.
National Indigenous Fire Safety Council, formerly Indigenous Fire Marshal Office project
On May 7, 2020, the Indigenous Fire Marshal Office (IFMO) became the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council on the advice of the project's National Advisory Committee following engagement feedback from Indigenous communities and stakeholders.
The National Indigenous Fire Safety Council (NIFSC) focuses on providing program and capacity supports, research, incident reporting systems and fire prevention and public education to interested First Nation communities.
As part of this work, the NIFSC hosts the Indigenous Public Safety Conference, which serves as a platform to address issues related to Indigenous fire safety and emergency preparedness. Events include training, conference sessions, a tradeshow, the National Firefighting Competition, and the presentation of the Community Fire Prevention Award.