Firefighting shortfalls threaten Nunavik communities

An early morning fire destroyed the Hydro-Québec office and residence in Kangiqsujuaq on Feb. 27.

No one was hurt in the blaze, but the building was lost. Classes were cancelled at the school, which lies downwind of the fire,when smoke entered the school building.

Kangiqsujuaq is one of many communities in Nunavik that needs a new fire hall.

Many Nunavik communities don’t have firefighting capabilities that meet provincial standards, councillors at the recent Kativik Regional Government meeting learned.

The shortfalls vary. Some communities can’t assure firefighters can count on the minimum amount of water – 1,500 litres – for the first 30 minutes. Others lack the minimum number of 10 volunteer firefighters available at all times to fight a fire.

The KRG’s civil security department is preparing its final “Fire Safety Cover Plan” for Nunavik, which spells out exactly how each Northern Village plans to meet the minimum standards for fire protection and estimates how much money is needed to do the job.

The plan is intended to reduce losses and make better use of resources.

The losses from fires in Nunavik are staggering: from 2000 to 2004, more than 100 fires in the region caused property losses of $26.9 million, averaging about $539 per person.

The plan estimates Quebec will need to spend about $5 million in order to bring Nunavik‘s equipment and infrastructure up to par.

In 1999, $2.9 million from Quebec allowed the construction of several new fire stations and upgrades, as well as the purchase of seven new fire trucks. But new fire stations are still needed in Quaqtaq, Kangiqsujuaq, Kangirsuk, Inukjuak and Puvirnituq.

Water trucks also need to be replaced in Kuujjuaraapik, Puvirnituq, Inukjuak and Kangiqsualujjuaq. Only Kuujjuaraapik, Inukjuak, Puvirnituq, Salluit, Kangirsuk, Kuujjuaq and Kangiqsualujjuaq can provide enough water to properly fight fires.

The KRG receives $700,000 a year from Quebec’s public security department, and spends $420,000 to coordinate regional fire prevention and activities and $250,000 into training annually, but less money is still spent per capita in Nunavik on fire prevention than in southern Quebec.