About 20 volunteer firefighters from across Nunavut are in Iqaluit this week to learn about fire prevention.

They’ll then share that information with their communities.

The group has been meeting at the Navigator Inn since last Tuesday.

Robert Prima, Nunavut's Fire Marshal, said at the end of the seminar, firefighters will be able to go back to their communities and present public education programs. The goal is curb problems such as fire-setting, and the growing number of fires in the territory every year.

Prima said the best prevention is education.

“To address all the fire issues in the territory - public education is the number one issue we're trying to get across to the people. That's how you fight fires: with education,” he said.

Prima said they’re also working on building coalitions between the fire departments, police and health workers back in communities.

RCMP Cpl. Dennis Lamb spoke to the volunteers about how they can help with arson investigations.

“What you guys do at the beginning helps us at the end. Like if you don't have to tear down a wall, don't tear it down. If you don't have to tear down a ceiling, don't tear it down. But if you have to, notice it, is there burn patterns on it? Because we'll ask you about it afterwards.”

The firefighters will also spend the rest of the week working on their presentations to take back to their communities.

The seminar wraps on Thursday.