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Reserves need more fire safety: child advocate

Feb. 20, 2015, Loon Lake, Sask. - Saskatchewan's child advocate is calling on aboriginal and government leaders to work together to improve fire safety on reserves.

Bob Pringle says the deaths of two young children in a house fire earlier this week has added to his stress on the long-standing issue.

He says children have a right to be safe in their homes and adults need to stop finger-pointing about who's responsible for fire protection.

A two-year-old boy and his 18-month-old sister were killed Tuesday in a fire on the Makwa Sahgaiehcan reserve.

The First Nation had a working fire truck, but no proper equipment or a trained crew to use it.

The band had hired the volunteer fire department in a neighbouring village, but was cut off after it stopped paying its firefighting bills.

The federal government says it gives sufficient funds to reserves for fire services.

February 20, 2015 
By The Canadian Press