Fire in the Native American-Alaska

Native Community

Demographics

• 575 Recognized Tribes

• 4,119,301 Native Americans and Alaska Natives (2000 Census)

AMERIND Regions

Scope of Problem

Fire Related Death Rate for Native

Americans:

3x the national average.

(51.4 per 1,000,000)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

NationalFire Deaths

NativeAmericanFire Deaths

Fire in the United States, 11th Edition, 1987-1996

Scope of Problem

• Fire is the leading cause of childhood injury/death in Native American homes.

» (Source: IHS)

• Top three fire causes:– Children playing with

matches

– Cooking

– Arson» (Source: AMERIND)

Influences

• Tribal sovereignty• Cultural mores• Rural communities • Varying degrees of

fire protection• Variety of agencies

delivering fire protection

• Lack of reporting

Players

• Tribal Councils• Tribal FDs• NNAFCA • BIA• IHS• NAIHC• NCAI• AMERIND

What Needs to Be Done

1. Develop culturally sensitive fire prevention materials/programs

2. Improve communication between NAFDs, IHA, IHS, BIA, USFA

What Needs to Be Done

• Strengthen ties w/AMERIND

• Enlist NAFDs to develop and participate in a national reporting system to improve access to funding.

Native American-Alaska Native Fire Prevention Outreach Program

Disbursed to IAFC for the purpose of reducing the tragedy

of fire in the

Native American

community.

Native American-Alaska Native Fire Prevention Outreach Program

– Calls for locating public domain fire prevention materials that can be modified to the Native American community.

– Calls for the NNAFCA to begin a pilot partnership w/housing authorities to discuss fire prevention w/occupants.

– Calls for continued involvement of AMERIND due to their access to reliable data that gives a snapshot of fire problem.

Progress to Date

• 1 focus group and 5 task force meetings held (03/02, 05/20, 08/25, 10/22, 11/14, 12/11).

• Scope of Work modified based on task force input.

• Importance of multi-year funding impressed upon FEMA.

• FEMA accepted modifications to scope of work without issue.

Progress to Date

• Partnerships established with several “players.”

• Template developed for Native American-Alaska Native fire prevention program

Progress to Date

• Tentative permission obtained from Assembly of First Nations (Canada) to use Wisdom of the Fire Program.

“Deliverables”

• Support the expansion of the NNAFCA.

• Develop a better picture of the fire problem in the Native American community through building relationships between the task force principles.

“Deliverables”

• Develop products that can be disseminated to the Native American community that will reduce loss from fire.

• Provide written report to FEMA after each meeting to outline progress.

Principle Deliverables for 03/31/03 deadline:

• Written report outlining what is envisioned for the program in 2002-03.

• Final report on accomplishments to date.

Native American-Alaska Native Fire Prevention

The Future

• Petition FEMA for additional funding with a second grant request. (late Feb-early March ’03 reply date)

• Continue to facilitate relationships between tribal leaders, tribal housing and tribal FDs.

• Distribute copies and provide training on delivering the components of the template.

The Future

• Expand the distribution of home fire prevention kits through AMERIND and the NNAFCA.

• Establish and promote the use of a Native American based fire reporting system.

We need to act now to protect our most valuable possessions