LOON LAKE, Sask. -- A timeline of events relating to fire services on the Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation in Saskatchewan:
About 2010: The reserve purchases a used fire truck but it doesn't have proper equipment, such as hoses that fit the community's hydrants. It is parked for future use. The band hires the neighbouring village of Loon Lake for the services of its volunteer fire department.
Oct. 2, 2012: The band writes a letter to Loon Lake cancelling its contract, saying it no longer wants to pay an annual $5,000 fee for services and, instead, wants to pay the cost of fighting each fire.
Jan. 24, 2013: The village sends an agreement letter to the band with a list of fire costs. It states that if bills aren't paid after 30 days, fire services will be revoked. In the following months, the village says the band paid most of its bills, but not always on time.
November 2014: The village council's fire board decides to cut fire services to the band because it said it hasn't paid its bills since spring.
Jan. 30, 2015: The village sends a letter to the band stating the fire department will no longer be attending fires on the reserve. The band's chief and finance director later say they were unaware of the letter.
Feb. 17, 2015: A fire breaks out on a home on the reserve about 1:30 a.m. The Loon Lake fire chief gets a re-routed 911 call about the blaze but does not send his crew. The RCMP show up to find a man carrying the bodies of his two children, aged 18 months old and two years, out of the house.
