Several studies have shown that there is an elevated fire risk in low income areas whether it’s a neighborhood in the US, a North American Tribal area or a significant part of the African continent. Fire is only one of the risks that people in low income areas face, and safety often becomes a low priority when it is difficult to meet basic needs. The challenge is to tackle the fire problem even as significant economic and social influences await future resolution. Although they are linked, we cannot wait. This session will shine a light on some of the critical issues that face low income areas and provide potential paths forward to deal with these.