Sioux Lookout, Independent First Nations Alliance sign agreement on fire prevention and protection
CBC
The Municipality of Sioux Lookout, Ont, and the Independent First Nations Alliance (IFNA) have signed an agreement to share resources related to fire prevention and protection.
Sioux Lookout's resources include technical specialists, disaster responders, trainers, instructors, search and rescue teams and other specialist teams, according to a news release from the municipality.
IFNA has its own dedicated, multifaceted emergency services and regional fire rescue division.
"We're a small municipality and IFNA is an agency that represents small First Nations in the north," said Sioux Lookout Mayor Doug Lawrance.
"So when we come together and collaborate, it can make things like training much more affordable when we do it together and we share resources."
IFNA supports and works for the communities of:
Jeremy Funk, fire chief and manager of emergency services for the municipality, said the agreement formalizes initiatives that were already underway to provide training opportunities and share resources between the two emergency services.
"Being two smaller services in northwestern Ontario, not a lot of training resources are typically available to us," said Funk. "So we are very much stronger when we work together to bring opportunities for our firefighters and bring training programs here."
Nicholas Rhone, director of IFNA's integrated emergency services and regional rescue fire chief, agreed the memorandum of understanding formalizes what is already a good relationship between IFNA's tribal council, regional fire rescue and Sioux Lookout — specifically its fire department.
In the short term, he said, the partnership will allow them to build capacity and potentially set up a regional training centre.
However, he added, IFNA is still looking to get more dedicated funding for its fire personnel and longer-term training opportunities from the federal government.
"No northern communities received any dedicated funding for fire positions like the fire chief or a fire department per se in the north," said Rhone. "And when you combine that lack of funding resources with the number of house fires and fatalities that we've had from fires in the north, it doesn't make for a good combination."
The memorandum of understanding is in effect through Dec. 31, 2026, unless renewed.
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