Hamilton Fire Department Donation Strengthens Fire Protection in Lac Seul First Nation
LAC SEUL FIRST NATION, ON – October 9, 2026 – Lac Seul First Nation celebrated the addition of a donated fire truck to its local fire service during a ceremony held in Frenchman’s Head on September 28. Donated by the Hamilton Fire Department, the truck will strengthen Lac Seul First Nation’s emergency response capacity and support the continued growth of local fire services.
The ceremony brought together Lac Seul First Nation leadership and firefighters, representatives from the Hamilton Fire Department, Lac Seul Police Service, the Independent First Nations Alliance (IFNA), the Honourable Jill Dunlop, Ontario Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response, and other partners.
The fire truck was donated by the Hamilton Fire Department and officially handed over earlier this summer following a ceremony in Hamilton on July 3. Its arrival in Lac Seul marks an important addition to the community’s firefighting resources and will provide local firefighters with additional capacity to respond safely and effectively to emergencies.
“This is a significant donation for Lac Seul First Nation and one that will make a real difference for our fire department,” said Chief Clifford Bull of Lac Seul First Nation. “Our firefighters volunteer their time and take on tremendous responsibility to help keep our people safe. It is important that we recognize their dedication and make sure they have the equipment and resources to carry out that work. We are sincerely grateful to the Hamilton Fire Department and the City of Hamilton for their generosity and for helping us continue to strengthen fire services here in Lac Seul.”
“This donation is a great example of what can happen when communities and organizations work together to support one another,” said Vernon Morris, Chief Executive Officer of the Independent First Nations Alliance. “We are grateful to the Hamilton Fire Department and the City of Hamilton for their generosity and for helping strengthen emergency services in Lac Seul First Nation.”
Reliable firefighting apparatus is essential to protecting lives, homes, infrastructure, and the broader community. Like many community fire departments, Lac Seul First Nation’s fire service relies on the commitment of volunteer firefighters who give their time to train, respond to emergencies, and help keep their community safe. Ensuring these volunteers have access to reliable equipment is an important part of strengthening local emergency response. Nicholas Rhone, IFNA’s Director of Integrated Emergency Services and Regional Fire Chief, has also served as a volunteer Deputy Fire Chief with Lac Seul First Nation for the past eight years, working alongside the community’s volunteer firefighters and supporting the continued development of its fire service.
“Every community deserves access to the equipment and resources needed to respond safely and effectively when emergencies occur,” said Rhone. “Seeing this truck here in Lac Seul is an important milestone. It strengthens the tools available to local firefighters and supports the work being done to build emergency response capacity within the community.”
IFNA Regional Fire Rescue continues to work alongside member Nations to strengthen local fire services through training, emergency planning, equipment support, fire prevention initiatives, and capacity building. Partnerships with municipal fire services and other organizations play an important role in expanding the resources available to First Nation communities.
IFNA extends its sincere appreciation to the City of Hamilton and the Hamilton Fire Department for their generosity and commitment to supporting fire protection in Lac Seul First Nation, and to all those who joined Lac Seul First Nation and IFNA in recognizing the donation during the September 28th ceremony.
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Jillian Hietanen
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