Nunavimmiut to hold first fire prevention week

IQALUIT — Although national fire prevention week officially took place in early October across North America, Nunavimmiut will concentrate their regional fire prevention activities during the week of Oct. 25.

As part of Nunavik’s fire prevention week’s events, fire brigades in every community will inspect homes for fire hazards. They’ll also use the opportunity to tell residents about the new and improved organization of their fire departments.

“This is the first time that Nunavik has ever held a regional fire prevention week,” said Luc Harvey, who co-ordinates civil security for the Kativik Regional Government.

This is also the first time that the Quebec government has injected enough money, more than $3 million, to bring Nunavik’s fire departments and emergency response plans up to par.

After the January 1 avalanche that devastated Kangiqsualujjuaq, Quebec’s minister of public security, Serge Ménard, had promised swift action on an agreement to help communities in Nunavik build firehalls, train personnel and prepare emergency response plans.

Five new fire halls will go up in Tasiujaq, Aupaluk, Akulivik, Ivujivik and Umiujaq, at a cost of about $260,000 each.

Seven new fire trucks will also be purchased for Tasiujaq, Aupaluk, Akulivik, Ivujivik, Kangiqsujuaq, Quaqtaq and Umiujaq.

Two technicians, Mike Cameron from Salluit and Craig Lingard from Kuujjuaq, have been hired to work with municipalities on civil security. They will upgrade their skills in fire prevention and firefighting so that they can instruct other brigades in new firefighting techniques.

Thanks to a $56,000 grant from DIAND, communities will soon have new portable iridium phones for use in emergencies, an investment that’s designed to avoid the major communication problems experienced during the avalanche.

Nunavik is also moving ahead with other activities designed to improve its emergency preparedness.

A new Kativik Civil Security Directorate with members from Nunavik’s major organizations and Quebec’s department of civil security is being set up. It will be complemented by a regional security committee and civil security committees in each municipality.

Plans are also underway for a centre in Kuujjuaq that will coordinate emergency response measures for the entire region.

Coroner Jacques Bérubé’s report on the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the nine people who perished in the Kangiqsualujjuaq avalanche is expected to stress the need better emergency response systems in Nunavik.

Bérubé told Nunatsiaq News that he expects to release his report in Kangiqsualujjuaq sometime in November.