Circumstances surrounding fire-related deaths among Indigenous people in Canada, 2011 to 2020

Press Release

August 8, 2024

From 2011 to 2020, an average of 220 fire-related deaths occurred each year in Canada. In the Canadian context, fire-related mortality and morbidity have previously been found to be significantly higher among Indigenous people (First Nations people, Métis and Inuit)—particularly among First Nations people and Inuit—when compared with non-Indigenous people.

There are many factors that have been suggested to contribute to higher fire-related mortality among Indigenous people, including inadequate housing, lack of smoke detectors, underfunding of fire services in Indigenous communities, and lack of legislation mandating adherence to building and fire codes on reserve. In addition, multiple factors, such as lower socioeconomic status (e.g., low income), overcrowded living conditions and limited access to healthcare services in rural locations, place Indigenous people at an elevated risk of various types of unintentional injuries, including fire-related morbidity and mortality.

A new report, entitled “Circumstances surrounding fire-related deaths among Indigenous people in Canada, 2011 to 2020,” prepared by the Centre for Population Health Data, is now available.

This report was prepared for and sponsored by the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council, which is funded by Indigenous Services Canada. The purpose of this report was to analyze and compare available data on the circumstances surrounding fire-related deaths among Indigenous people with those among non-Indigenous people. While a distinction-based approach to acknowledge the unique histories, interests and priorities of First Nations people, Métis and Inuit is important, such an approach was not feasible due to the small sample size of Indigenous people in the linked dataset. Instead, data were presented for all Indigenous people.

A few highlights from the report include:

• Fire-related fatalities were more prevalent among males than females for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

• Indigenous people who died from a fire-related event from 2011 to 2020 (mean age of 39 years) were younger on average compared with non-Indigenous people (mean age of 59 years).

• Fire-related deaths were most common in the winter months for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

• Residential fires accounted for the majority of fire-related deaths among both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

• About one in eight residential fire-related deaths (12%) among Indigenous people occurred in residences without a working smoke alarm, and this proportion was similar for non-Indigenous people.

• About 56% of Indigenous people who died in a residential fire lived in a house that needed major repairs compared with 13% of non-Indigenous people.

• Indigenous people (20%) who died in a fire were more often involved in residential fires causing two or more deaths than non-Indigenous people (7%).

• Over two-thirds (68%) of Indigenous people who died in a fire lived in rural areas compared with just over one-third (34%) of non-Indigenous people who died in a fire.