Transcript – Fire Prevention in Aboriginal Communities
{MUSIC plays.}
{VISUAL: CMHC "Home to Canadians" red roof logo appears. The logo fades out and is replaced by the Canada Wordmark. The Wordmark shifts to video of a woman alone in a burned-out room. A uniformed firefighter enters with a young boy. The firefighter exits, leaving the woman and child alone.}
Child: "Where's Tommy?"
Woman: "He's in the hospital."
Child: "Is he all right?"
{VISUAL: The woman turns sadly away, and picks up a charred photograph of a boy. The image shifts to a visual of fire filling the frame.}
{Text on screen: Fire Prevention in Aboriginal Communities}
{VISUAL: The image shifts to a man standing beside a fire truck. Text on screen: Gino Odjick, Former National Hockey League (NHL) Star}
Gino Odjick: "Fires cause more property loss, injuries, and deaths than any other incidence in Aboriginal communities. For example, when compared to Canadian-wide statistics--"
{VISUAL: The image shifts to a series of photographs of First Nations communities in the wintertime. The final image is of the faces of a First Nation Elder and young child, surrounded by flames.}
Gino Odjick (voice-over): "--fires are twice as likely to occur in First Nations communities and the rate of fire-related deaths is 10 times higher in those communities. Sadly, most of those who die in house fires are children under the age of 5 and the elderly."
{VISUAL: The image shifts to a woman sitting in a living room.}
Doreen Wesley: "My name is Doreen Wesley. I was born in Moose Factory, Ontario."
{VISUAL: Image shifts to a map of Ontario and Quebec, with the community of Moose Factory highlighted. Image shifts back to Doreen Wesley.}
{Text on screen: Doreen Wesley, Cree First Nation}
Doreen Wesley: "There was 19 in my family, and we lived in a two-room house."
{VISUAL: The image shifts to photographs of a wall with a hole in it, followed by a smoke alarm.}
Doreen Wesley (voice-over): "It was built more like out of plywood. As far as fire extinguishers, fire alarms, they didn't exist back then-"
{VISUAL: Image shifts back to Doreen Wesley.}
Doreen Wesley: "--and I don't think they even exist even today on the reserves."
{VISUAL: Image shifts to a photograph of a house surrounded by flames.}
Doreen Wesley (voice-over): "And the homes are still built the same with the same material. And the homes are still built the same with the same material."
{VISUAL: Image shifts back to Doreen Wesley.}
Doreen Wesley: "The loss that I experienced was quite unnecessary."
{VISUAL: Image shifts to a photograph of three young girls smiling.}
Doreen Wesley (voice-over): "Delma was - she was my, um - sorry, she was my baby sister. I was very close with her, and, um--"
{VISUAL: Image shifts to a photograph of two young boys, then an image of coffins at a memorial service. Several of the caskets are child-sized.}
Doreen Wesley (voice-over): "--she had three boys. Peter was five years old. Kenny was three, and Jeremy was two months old. All of them died in a house fire back in 1988."
{VISUAL: Image shifts back to Doreen Wesley.}
Doreen Wesley: "I'm sorry. It's still hard to this day because I think about her all the time."
{VISUAL: Image shifts to photographs of a funeral service.}
Doreen Wesley (voice-over): "I know if there was a fire alarm in the house, that would have saved her life, saved the life of the boys."
{VISUAL: Image shifts back to Doreen Wesley.}
Doreen Wesley: "And there has been quite a few other fires after that--"
{VISUAL: Image shifts to a photograph of a fire-damaged home.}
Doreen Wesley (voice-over): "--that have taken the lives of some of my other family members, and it's unnecessary. It shouldn't have happened at all."
{VISUAL: Image shifts back to Gino Odjick beside a fire truck.}
Gino Odjick: "While the history of fire prevention in Aboriginal communities is dark, the future is looking brighter all the time."
{VISUAL: Image shifts to a photograph of schoolchildren posing with a firefighter in front of a fire truck. The truck has a sign that reads "It's Fire Prevention Week, Test Your Smoke Alarms."}
Gino Odjick (voice-over): "Communities are forming strategies to fight fires like offering professional training to volunteers and acquiring better and more firefighting equipment."
{VISUAL: Image shifts to photographs of two homes under construction.}
Gino Odjick (voice-over): "They are building homes with fire-resistant materials and improving roads so that emergency teams can respond to fires more quickly."
{VISUAL: Image shifts back to Gino Odjick.}
Gino Odjick: "While such programs are necessary and go a long way to helping prevent fires--"
{VISUAL: Image shifts to photographs of a fire hydrant, a smoke detector and the door of a house.}
Gino Odjick (voice-over): "--there is still much more that can be done to make our families, our homes and ourselves safe. Changes must be made. And these changes must begin at home and with each and every one of us."
{VISUAL: Image shifts back to Gino Odjick.}
Gino Odjick: "This video will show you how to make those changes--"
{VISUAL: Image shifts to a photograph of a home that was burned in a fire, then shifts to a visual of fire filling the frame.}
Gino Odjick (voice-over): "--and how to become aware of the possibility of fire in your everyday life so that you can take the proper steps to make sure a tragic fire doesn't take away your property, your loved ones, or you."
{Text on screen: Dramatization #1, Smoking Indoors (Negative Outcome)}
{VISUAL: The image shifts to a woman in a living room, watching television and smoking a cigarette.}
Man's voice (O.S.): "Come to bed, Mary."
Mary: "After my show."
Man's voice (O.S.): "All right, but you'll be tired in the morning."
Mary: "I'll be up in a minute. Go to sleep."
{VISUAL: The woman dozes off and drops the cigarette on the upholstered armchair she's sitting in. A close-up of the cigarette fades as a visual of fire fills the frame. The image shifts to a man in uniform standing against a black background.}
{Text on screen: Tom Littlechild, President, Aboriginal Fire Fighter Association of Canada}
Tom Littlechild: "Smokers materials is one of the leading causes of residential fires on First Nations and anywhere across the country. You smokers out there have to remember:"
{VISUAL: Image shifts to a visual of fire filling the frame.}
Tom Littlechild (voice-over): "When you're around furniture or even in bed, that a discarded cigarette can smoulder for hours, and after a while you're going to have a raging fire."
{Text on screen: When you're around furniture or in bed, a discarded cigarette can smoulder for hours, and after a while you're going to have a raging fire.}
{Text on screen: Dramatization #1, Smoking Indoors (Positive Outcome)}
{VISUAL: The image returns to the woman watching television and smoking a cigarette.}
Man's voice (O.S.): "Come to bed, Mary."
Mary: "After my show."
Man's voice (O.S.): "You be careful with that cigarette. Last time, you burned a big hole in the couch."
Mary: "Okay, Paul."
{VISUAL: The woman puts out her cigarette in an ashtray before getting up and leaving the room. The image shifts to a visual of fire filling the frame.}
Tom Littlechild (voice-over): "When you're discarding your cigarette butts, it's best to use a safety ashtray. When the ashtray gets full and you wish to dump it, it's usually recommended that you wait a few hours to make sure that the embers are nice and cold. If you're in a hurry, pour some water on it just like a campfire."
{Text on screen: When you're discarding your cigarette butts, it's best to use a safety ashtray. When the ashtray gets full and you wish to dump it, it's recommended that you wait a few hours until the embers are nice and cold. If you're in a hurry, pour some water on it just like a campfire.}
{VISUAL: Image shifts to Tom Littlechild against a black background.}
Tom Littlechild: "What I have seen a lot of people do is find a big old coffee can around their house and dump the ashes into there. Lastly, people working around flammable material, like gasoline and stuff like that, please--"
{VISUAL: Image shifts to a visual of fire filling the frame.}
Tom Littlechild (voice-over): "--do not smoke or, if nothing else, do not light up a cigarette with a match or lighter."
{Text on screen: Don't smoke or light cigarettes around gasoline and other flammable materials.}
{Text on screen: Dramatization #2, Handling Matches (Negative Outcome)}
{VISUAL: A little boy sits at a kitchen table while his mother sets it for dinner.}
Woman: "I wonder where your father is. He's been out there all day. He must be starving."
Child: "Yeah, me too."
{VISUAL: The mother strikes a match and lights a candle.}
Woman: "I'm going to go get him, okay? I'll be right back."
Child: "Okay."
{VISUAL: The little boy grabs the box of matches and lights one. He burns his finger and drops the match on a stack of napkins, which catch on fire.}
Child: "Ow!"
{VISUAL: The image shifts to a visual of fire filling the frame, then back to Tom Littlechild.}
Tom Littlechild: "Fire-setting behaviour is not something that can be tolerated. This is a serious and dangerous condition."
{VISUAL: The image shifts to a visual of fire filling the frame.}
Tom Littlechild (voice-over): "If this persists, contact your local fire department or your local mental health department for assistance."
{Text on screen: If fire setting behaviour persists, contact your local fire department or mental health department for assistance.}
{Text on screen: Dramatization #2, Handling Matches (Positive Outcome)}
{VISUAL: The image shifts back to the little boy and his mother in their kitchen.}
Woman: "I wonder where your father is. He's been out there all day. He must be starving."
Child: "Yeah, me too."
{VISUAL: The mother strikes a match and lights the candle.}
Woman: "I'm going to go get him, okay?"
Child: "Okay."
{VISUAL: The mother removes the box of matches from the table and blows out the candle before exiting the room. The image shifts to a visual of fire filling the frame.}
Tom Littlechild (voice-over): "Keep all matches, lighters and lit candles away from the reach of children, up high above an adult's shoulder height. Matches and lighters should be kept in a locked cabinet."
{Text on screen: Keep all matches, lighters and lit candles out of reach of children (above adult shoulder height). Matches and lighters should be kept in a locked cabinet.}
{VISUAL: The image shifts back to Tom Littlechild.}
Tom Littlechild: "Teach your children that matches and lighters are not toys. If they find them laying around, they should be taught to find a grown-up to give them to."
{Visual: Image shifts to a visual of fire filling the frame,}
{Text on screen: Dramatization #3, Wood Stoves (Negative Outcome)}
{VISUAL: The image shifts to a man stoking a woodstove while his wife sits knitting on the sofa.}
Woman: "You haven't cleaned that stovepipe since last winter, Mortimer. Remember what happened at Vernon's place. The flames shot out the stove door like a giant blowtorch!"
Mortimer: "Vernon hadn't cleaned the stovepipe in over 10 years."
Woman: "There is no reason why you shouldn't do it every year, like it says in the Fire Prevention Guide."
Mortimer: "Bah!"
{VISUAL: The man brushes off the woman's warning and places a final log on the fire before closing the stove door, brushing off his hands and exiting the room. The image shifts to a visual of fire filling the frame.}
Tom Littlechild (voice-over): "Chimneys and stovepipes should be cleaned at least once a year. Always keep the top of your wood-burning stove free of flammable materials such as plastic and wooden cooking utensils, dishcloths, oven mitts, stuff of that nature."
{Text on screen: Chimneys and stovepipes should be cleaned at least once a year. Keep the top of woodstoves free of flammable materials such as plastic and wooden cooking utensils, dishcloths, oven mitts, etc…}
{VISUAL: Image shifts back to Tom Littlechild.}
Tom Littlechild: "Always keep your wood-burning material such as your paper, your kindling, a safe distance away from the wood-burning stove."
{VISUAL: Image shifts to a visual of fire filling the frame.}
{Text on screen: Dramatization #3, Wood Stoves (Positive Outcome)}
{VISUAL: Image shifts back to the man stoking his woodstove while his wife knits.}
Woman: "You haven't cleaned that stovepipe since last winter, Mortimer. Remember what happened at Vernon's place. The flames shot out the stove door like a giant blowtorch!"
Mortimer: "Vernon hadn't cleaned the stovepipe in over 10 years."
Woman: "There is no reason why you shouldn't do it every year, like it says in the Fire Prevention Guide. And you should move that wood farther away from the stove."
Mortimer: "You're right, dear. You're always right."
{VISUAL: The man stops stoking the fire and moves the wood away from the stove.}
Mortimer: "I'll go get the brush, and I'll clean the stovepipe tonight."
Woman: "Good boy, Mortimer."
{VISUAL: Image shifts to a visual of fire filling the frame.}
Tom Littlechild (voice-over): "Cords of firewood should be stored at least thirty feet away from your house. Any unused chimney flues on your house should be sealed off with sheet metal. Never stuff them full of rags. Any cracks around your chimney should be repaired with mortar as soon as you find out there's a problem."
{Text on screen: Cords of firewood should be stored at least thirty feet away from your house. Any unused chimney flues on your house should be sealed off with sheet metal. Never stuff them full of rags. Any cracks around your chimney should be repaired with mortar as soon as you find out that there is a problem.}
{VISUAL: Image shifts back to Tom Littlechild.}
Tom Littlechild: "Never use accelerants to light your fire. Any accelerants should be stored outside of your home."
{VISUAL: Image shifts to a visual of fire filling the frame.}
{Text on screen: Dramatization #4, Outlets and Space Heaters (Negative Outcome)}
{VISUAL: Image shifts to a woman sitting on the floor in her bedroom struggling with an extension cord. A man walks in.}
Man: "Whatcha doin' there?"
Woman: "I'm trying to plug in this darn electric heater, but it won't fit."
Man: "That extension cord isn't heavy enough, and your heater's too close to the bed. That blanket could catch fire."
Woman: "I'll move it later."
Man: "And you've got too many things plugged into this wall socket. You've got the iron, the fan, the radio, the electric blanket. And now you're going to plug the heater in? You're overloading it."
Woman: "Dad, if you want to help, plug this in for me."
Man: "I won't! I'm not going to be responsible for you burning your house down."
Woman: "Would you rather I freeze to death? There!"
{VISUAL: The woman plugs the heater into the outlet.}
Man: "Just make sure you don't run everything at once. You'll overheat the outlet."
Woman: "You worry too much."
{VISUAL: Image shifts to a visual of fire filling the frame.}
Tom Littlechild (voice-over): "Overloaded electrical outlets can cause fires due to overheating and overcurrent. Electric heaters should be placed at an approved distance, three feet or one metre away from flammable or combustible materials, such as the walls, or bedding material, furniture, stuff of that nature."
{Text on screen: Overloaded electrical outlets can cause fires due to overheating and overcurrent. Electric heaters should be placed at an approved distance (at least 3 feet, or one metre) away from flammable or combustible materials, such as walls, bedding material, furniture, etc…}
{VISUAL: Image shifts back to Tom Littlechild.}
Tom Littlechild: "Never use an electric heater to dry out your children's mitts, your socks, wet boots, stuff of that nature. And never leave a space heater unattended. If you leave the room, please shut off the space heater."
{VISUAL: The image shifts to a visual of fire filling the frame.}
{Text on screen: Dramatization #4, Outlets and Space Heaters (Positive Outcome)}
{VISUAL: The image shifts back to the woman struggling with an extension cord and talking to her father.}
Man: "Whatcha doin' there?"
Woman: "I'm trying to plug in this darn electric heater, but it won't fit."
Man: "That extension cord isn't heavy enough, and your heater's too close to the bed. That blanket could catch fire."
Woman: "I'll move it later."
Man: "And you've got too many things plugged into this wall socket. You've got the iron, the fan, the radio, the electric blanket. And now you're going to plug the heater in? You're overloading it."
Woman: "Okay, Dad. I guess you're right. I could use another outlet in here. You can start on it first thing in the morning."
{VISUAL: The woman puts down the extension cord and they both stand and leave the room. The image shifts to a visual of fire filling the frame.}
Tom Littlechild (voice-over): "If you have to use an extension cord for your electric space heater, or any other device that produces heat, please ensure that the cord is rated and heavy enough to carry the current to power that unit."
{Text on screen: If you have to use an extension cord for your electric space heater, or any other device that produces heat, please ensure that the cord is rated and heavy enough to carry the current to power that unit.}
{VISUAL: Image shifts back to Tom Littlechild.}
Tom Littlechild: "If you come across any damaged cords, have them repaired or replaced. If the unit is no longer in use, please ensure that you unplug it when you leave the room."
{VISUAL: The image shifts to a visual of fire filling the frame.}
Tom Littlechild (voice-over): "Lamps can be a fire hazard. Always use a CSA-approved lamp, and ensure that the shade is the proper distance away from the bulb. On all lamps that are purchased here in Canada, will have a label on it telling you what the maximum wattage is for that particular lamp. Never use a 100 watt bulb in a lamp that's designed only for 60 watts."
{Text on screen: Lamps can be a fire hazard. Always use a CSA approved lamp, and ensure that the shade is the proper distance away from the bulb. All lamps purchased in Canada will have a label telling you what the maximum wattage is for that particular lamp. Never use a 100 watt bulb in a lamp that's designed for 60 watts.}
{VISUAL: Image shifts back to Tom Littlechild.}
Tom Littlechild: "Any wiring that needs to be done within your home, get an approved electrician to do the job for you. These people are the professionals, they know how it's supposed to be done."
{VISUAL: Image shifts to a visual of fire filling the frame. Text on screen: Fire Safety when Cooking. Image shifts back to Tom Littlechild.}
Tom Littlechild: "Never leave your cooking unattended. This is one of the major causes of fires in a residential setting."
{VISUAL: Image shifts to a visual of fire filling the frame.}
Tom Littlechild (voice-over): "Avoid cooking while consuming alcohol. If you know you're going to be consuming alcohol, it's best to do your cooking prior to, so that later on, you can enjoy the meal. Never hang curtains above your stove. Whenever cooking, always turn the pot handles towards the centre of the stove. This will avoid you and small children from accidentally knocking them over."
{Text on screen: Avoid cooking while consuming alcohol. If you know you're going to be consuming alcohol, it's best to do your cooking prior to so that later on you can enjoy the meal. Never hang curtains above your stove. Turn pot handles toward the centre of the stove. This will avoid you and small children from accidentally knocking them over.}
{VISUAL: Image shifts back to Tom Littlechild.}
Tom Littlechild: "In the event of a grease fire, put a lid on it. The lid smothers the fire. Then turn off the burner. Never try to put water on a grease fire, and never try to take the pot to pour the grease into the sink or outside."
{VISUAL: Image shifts to a visual of fire filling the frame.}
Tom Littlechild (voice-over): "Always keep a portable fire extinguisher near your stove. Whenever cooking, try to avoid dangling clothing. This can sometimes catch fire on the burners. Anywhere around your stovetop, try to keep it clear of all flammable or combustible materials, such as plastic and wooden cooking utensils, dish towels, oven mitts, paper towels, stuff like this."
{Text on screen: Always keep a portable fire extinguisher near your stove. Whenever cooking, try to avoid dangling clothing. This can sometimes catch fire on the burners. Keep your stovetop clear of all flammable or combustible materials, such as plastic and wooden cooking utensils, dish towels, over mitts, paper towels, etc...}
{VISUAL: Image shifts back to Tom Littlechild.}
Tom Littlechild: "Anything that can get close to the burner. This can sometimes catch fire."
{VISUAL: Image shifts to a visual of fire filling the frame, then back to Doreen Wesley, sitting in her living room.}
Doreen Wesley: "All the families that are on the reserves right now, they should take the time to protect themselves, get fire extinguishers into their homes, get fire alarms put into their homes so this wouldn't happen to anybody else, so they wouldn't have to go through the pain that I've been living with since 1988."
{VISUAL: Image shifts to a photograph of a coffin at a memorial service, then back to Doreen Wesley.}
Doreen Wesley: "House fires are - they haunt everybody when you lose people."
{VISUAL: Image shifts to a visual of fire surrounding a photo of an old woodstove with a propane heating element jury-rigged inside it, followed by a photograph of a coffin at a memorial service.}
Gino Odjick (voice-over): "Fires cause more property loss, injuries and death in Aboriginal communities than any other preventable tragedies. But it doesn't have to be that way."
{VISUAL: Image shifts back to Gino Odjick beside a fire truck.}
Gino Odjick: "As we have seen in this video, there are simple steps we can take to help prevent fires. Here are a few more tips that can help keep your home and family safe."
{VISUAL: Image shifts to a visual of fire filling the frame.}
Gino Odjick (voice-over): "Every home should have a working fire extinguisher and a smoke detector on each floor. If your home has a 'wired-in' detector, make sure it has a backup battery in case of electrical failure. It is strongly recommended that a homeowner install a carbon monoxide detector. Clear brush from the yard so that fire can't attack your home from the outdoors. Be careful when smoking outdoors. Many brushfires and porch fires are caused by smoking carelessly outside. Keep exits free from clutter and plastic coverings. Even a thin plastic sheet used for insulation can be a deadly barrier in a fire, when there's often only a few seconds to escape the flames and suffocating smoke. Have an escape plan. In an emergency, it's important to think clearly and to move as quickly and calmly as possible to the nearest exit, whether a window or a door."
{Text on screen: Every home should have a working fire extinguisher and smoke detector on each floor. If you home has a 'wired-in' detector, make sure it has a backup battery in case of electrical failure. It is strongly recommended that homeowners install a carbon monoxide detector. Clear brush from the yard so that fire can't attack your home from outdoors. Be careful when smoking outdoors. Many brushfires and porch fires are caused by people smoking carelessly outside. Keep exits free from clutter and plastic covering. Even a thin plastic sheet used for insulation can be a deadly barrier in a fire. Have an escape plan. Think clearly and move as quickly and calmly as possible to the nearest exit, whether a window or a door.}
{VISUAL: Image shifts back to Gino Odjick.}
Gino Odjick: "Finally, keep in mind that most fires on First Nations communities are the result of arson. Many of these intentional fires are started by unsupervised children and teenagers who are not fully aware of the destruction and tragedy caused by arson."
{VISUAL: Image shifts to a visual of fire filling the frame.}
Gino Odjick (voice-over): "Parents, tell your children about the harm that can be caused with a single match."
{Text on screen: Parents, tell your children about the harm that can be caused with a single match.}
{VISUAL: Image shifts back to Gino Odjick.}
Gino Odjick: "Remember, arson is the most common cause of fire, but it is also the most easily preventable. All it takes to stop arson, like any other serious crime, is to just not do it."
{VISUAL: Image shifts to a visual of fire filling the frame.}
Gino Odjick (voice-over): "For more information on preventing fire, contact your local fire station or your nearest fire authority."
{Text on screen: For more information on preventing fire, contact your local fire station or nearest fire authority.}
{VISUAL: Image shifts back to Gino Odjick.}
Gino Odjick: "Let's all work together to make sure our communities are safe from fire."
{VISUAL: Image shifts to a visual of fire filling the frame, then to video of a young boy sitting in bed with his arm in a sling and a large bandage on his cheek. The other boy from the first scene stands at the foot of his bed.}
Child: "Tommy, were you in the hospital?"
Tommy: "Yeah. I want to be a doctor when I grow up."
Child: "Well, I want to be a fireman."
{MUSIC plays.}
{VISUAL: Credits roll against a black background.}
{Text on screen: For more information, visit the CMHC website at: www.cmhc.ca}
{FADE TO BLACK}
