Nine students injured in night dormitory fire in Migori

Nine students at Nyabisawa Girls Secondary School in Migori County were injured Monday night when their dormitory caught fire. The victims were trying to salvage their belongings from the burning dormitory when they inhaled fumes and collapsed.They were rushed to hospitals in Migori Town for treatment.

This is the third fire incident at the school within a period of ten months. The school is located in Suna East constituency.Nothing was salvaged from the dormitory, which normally housed 60 girls.

In 2014, the school experienced two dormitory fires that reduced students’ belongings to ashes.

ANGRY PARENTS

Following the Monday fire, angry parents stormed the school on Tuesday and demanded the removal of the principal, Ms Beatrice Kure.They said the fires had become too common and had become a huge financial burden, since they had to buy new books and bedding for their daughters.But Ms Kure denied claims of mismanagement while at the same time ruling out an electrical fault as the cause of the Monday fire.

“This was clearly an arson attack. I want the police to investigate and tell us the motive,” she said.

Security officers, led by Migori police boss Moses Chepyegon, visited the school and launched investigations.The dormitory had no emergency door and had only one tiny entry and exit door.“It is by good luck that the fire broke out when students were out for the evening preps,” said Mr Elijah Odhiambo, a county executive member.Migori Governor Okoth Obado demanded swift investigations into the fire incidents at the school.“We cannot have fires occurring in one school consistently. We want to know what is happening here,” he stated.

http://www.nation.co.ke/counties/dormitory-fire-Nyabisawa-Girls-sec/-/1107872/2603892/-/tlcv56/-/index.html

Three weeks of heartburn 'could be a sign of cancer'

England: Having heartburn most days for three weeks or more can be a sign of cancer, according to a health campaign. A national Be Clear on Cancer campaign launch coincides with results of a new survey commissioned by Public Health England, which reveals only one in two people (55%) would visit their doctor if they had heartburn most days for three weeks or more. Having the complaint this often can be a sign of oesophageal or stomach cancer, the campaign warns. Early diagnosis of oesophageal or stomach cancer - also known as oesophago-gastric cancers - is crucial and means treatment is more likely to be successful. Around 67% of people diagnosed with oesophago-gastric cancers at the earliest stage survive for at least five years, but this figure drops to around 3% for those diagnosed at a late stage. 

The survey of 1,046 people found 59% of respondents did not know that heartburn could be a sign of cancer, with just 15% saying they were certain that it is a symptom. Another symptom highlighted by the campaign is a difficulty swallowing food. The survey found that 70% did not know food sticking in the throat could be a sign of cancer, and just 13% of those surveyed were sure it is a symptom. Latest figures released by Public Health England show that around 12,900 people in England are diagnosed with oesophago-gastric cancers each year, with approximately 10,200 people dying from these diseases annually. This equates to 28 people dying from either oesophageal or stomach cancer every day. Oesophago-gastric cancers are the fourth and fifth most common cause of cancer death in men and women respectively. 

It has been estimated that around 950 lives could be saved in England each year if survival rates for oesophago-gastric cancers matched the best in Europe. The UK, with the Netherlands, has the joint highest incidence rate of oesophageal cancer in males in the European Union and the highest incidence rate of oesophageal cancer in females in the European Union. Of those diagnosed with oesophago-gastric cancers, more than nine out of 10 people are over the age of 50, making this the target age group for the campaign.

Professor Kevin Fenton, national director of health and wellbeing at Public Health England, said: "If we're to improve early diagnosis rates, we need to encourage people with symptoms to go to their doctor, which is what this latest Be Clear on Cancer campaign aims to do."

Read more at: http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/lifestyle/article/2000149287/three-weeks-of-heartburn-could-be-a-sign-of-cancer?pageNo=2

Are you a firefighter visiting Kenya?

Fire professionals visiting Kenya now have an opportunity to have a bird's eye view of the kind of fire protection and safety service offered by their Kenyan counter parts after INTEL FIRE GROUP OF COMPANIES introduced the Fire Stations County tours. This is a tour organized by the group to tour the most prominent fire stations in Kenya for a first hand experience and professional socialization. The fire stations are selected by the team of professionals visiting Kenya as part of their professional development or business or even experience in an African fire station.

Contacts for more information:

+254 20 2499786

info@intelfiregroup.com

60 homes burnt in Nyeri’s Kiawara informal settlement

Author Reference

Benard., L., (2014): 60 homes burnt in Nyeri’s Kiawara informal settlement. Intel Fire Group Blog. Nairobi, Kenya.

Fire razes houses at Kiawara informal settlement in Nyeri

On Saturday 17, January 2015 the homes of more than 50 families were razed to the ground after fire razed several houses in Nyeri County’s Kiawara informal settlement. Property worth thousands of shillings was reduced to ashes in the incident that occurred at 2PM. Despite the efforts by the Nyeri County fire department, the fire spread quickly to the closely built timber structures, intensified by a wind weather making rescue efforts difficult and forcing the residents to watch helplessly as the fire moved from one house to another.

This according to relevant sources was the second time this informal settlement was having a fire incident. In April 2014, fire razed houses at the settlement leaving 20 families homeless and the response story was quite the same with the residents being furious at the slow response.

Frustrations

It was evident from the fire department that the response team could not make it to the scene in time due to impassable roads in the informal settlement. But after getting to the scene the fire engine ran out of water after 30 minutes as the fire continued to intensify. In essence this brought danger to the fire response team as the wrath and fury of the residence was directed to them. The Nyeri County government was even accused for the second time as having neglected the disaster preparedness measures.

This story is replicated in most counties in Kenya where fire service delivery seems to have taken a back stage and the focus is on other areas such as roads and hospitals. The county governments of late have been parading ambulances meant for medical responses and county police cars for security response but none of the counties has unveiled a new fire engine. The last attempt was Nairobi County government that unveiled mobile water boozers that are yet to make any impact leave alone the area of operations. The then Ministry of Nairobi Metropolitan made huge impact through provision of fire engines to Nairobi Metropolis which included the surrounding towns. This program should be studied by the Nyeri county government and the other governments with a view of making sure the sub-counties are empowered in terms of disaster response resources, expertise and capacities.

The Author is a student of PhD Projects Management at JKUAT Juja Main Campus.

Sonko Rescue Team: A concept that if well modeled will change the disaster response story in Nairobi and beyond

Author Reference

Benard., L., (2014): Sonko Rescue Team: A concept that if well modeled will change the disaster response story in Nairobi and beyond. Intel Fire Group Blog. Nairobi, Kenya.

Coiling a disaster management team for basic disaster response in any city or town can be a daunting task but the recently launched SONKO response team in Nairobi is taking shape. The response team which is slowly gaining the attention of City residence comprises (According to Mr. SONKO Facebook update) a fire engine, towing trucks, and ambulances. In the recent times the city has faced major disasters from terrorist attacks, greasily road accidents to building collapsing but the major bodies concerned with response has not been proactive as required of them hence resulting into major public complains on the nature of response and the inadequate tools. The SONKO Rescue Team as a concept can endeavor again if natured into a formidable response force but the other county government can learn from.

The response system as a model

 

The response team as it currently stands can be modeled in to three core activities: free medical service; free response service; and free community service. The free medical service comprises of ambulances that is responding to the emergencies like road accidents that required immediate medical attention. Complete with trained medical experts and technical assistants, the free service is one of its kinds in Nairobi and its success will prove that better management of free services in Kenya can actually change lives. The free response service comprising of a towing truck, fire engine and water tankers mainly targets disasters especially fire related that mainly occur in slums in Nairobi. Fire being a major disaster in cities like Nairobi, offering a free service on fire service delivery would mean that the team responds every weak as records currently shows that there is at least one major fire disaster in Nairobi slum every weak. The provision of free security patrols also falls under this category. The free community service is a unique cluster service even though the free medical and response service are community service, they are specific with area of expertise therefore can be categorized independently. The free community service has attracted much public attention due to the package that provides free limousines and sleek hummers to couples seeking to wed.

What the county government can learn

Disaster management has been ignored by many county government and most have been focusing on responding to disasters when they occur rather than putting control measures to avoid the disasters occurring in the first place. The SONKO response team may be geared towards response to disasters as one school of thought would easily place it but this nobble idea can be implemented by county governments in creating awareness in disaster management and implementing control strategies to avoid disaster occurring.

As long as there are no good structures in place and systems to support them disasters will continue to occur and this concept will go a long way in giving hope to the hopeless in society.

It is also a strong indication that free service delivery as a concept can actually work and only requires a determined government and efficient utilization of resources that are available locally. Scholars would also note that free service delivery is not imitating what is done in other countries especially the west but finding a lasting solution to local problems. The only question that would arise in most instances is the sustainability of the project. This project is a noble idea but if the target community is not involved in its activities then its success will only last for a while as the community will not own it. But again that is a study that should be conducted conclusively.

The Author is a student of PhD Projects Management at JKUAT Juja Main Campus.

Kenyan fire protection and safety professionals can learn a lot more from the South Australian Fire-fighters

Author Reference

Benard., L., (2014): Kenyans can learn a lot more from the South Australian Fire fighters. Intel Fire Group Blog. Nairobi, Kenya.

In the last few days Southern Australia has been fighting fierce bush fires especially in Adelaide Hills where the fire is believed to be burning out of control. Coupled with gully winds the County Fire Service was able to plan and allocate resources lasting the whole operation. Considering the temperature in area to soar to up to 39 degrees Celsius, the fire fighters have been able to do their work beyond reproach and the dedication to duty than experienced in Kenya. Fire in Kenyan slum will consume more houses than expected and when the fire fighters arrive, the fire tender supposedly runs out of water and the next available hydrant is miles away. It may be that the Kenyan situation is different from the South Australian one and an emerging economy, Kenyan fire professionals can learn a lot more.

A water bomber drops on a flare-up at Cudlee Creek

What Kenya can learn

There is a fable in the Kenyan fire-fighting industry. This fable has two versions, depending on the fire-fighter who is telling it. If it is a Kenyan non-fire-fighter doing the recounting, then it goes like this: Kenya’s fire-fighters are failures in school pushed to the job by well-connected relatives. Due to this scenario they cannot be counted on in times of major fire emergencies. “These people” add more to the pain of fire disasters due to failure after failure.

A Kenyan fire profession telling the same tale, it takes a different slant. Kenyan fire-fighters are born. They are dedicated to their work with the limited resources and exploits all opportunities to ensure fire risks are averted. “These people” are the engine behind better fire service delivery. Which version of the fable is the myth and which is the reality? Or is it just a fable all round, a far-fetched legend that bears no resemblance to the truth, which version is recounted? It is time the Kenyan fire professionals looked critically at themselves (for we are all) and try to identify the facts about Kenyan fire professionals probably by looking at the success of the Southern Australian fire-fighters.

The successes of the Southern Australian fire-fighters are for all and sundry to see and more so the Kenyan fire professionals. Southern Australian fire-fighters have achieved many successes from controlling level of casualties, planning to the resource allocation and communication systems. In Adelaide Hills where it is reported that more than 11, 000 hectares have been burnt, there was a population of about 40, 000 people and no casualties were reported. This being the worst fire since the 1983 bushfires indicates the level of preparedness for a state with modern fire facilities compared to Kenya.

A CFS volunteer walks through burnt ground on Kersbrook Rd

There is also a strong indication that the fire department in Southern Australian  are working closely with their colleagues at the Bureau of Meteorology  which issues warnings on thunderstorms to the north and east of Adelaide and with information the fire departments are able to plan and allocate resources. The Kenyan County Fire Brigades should work closely with major players in the market which includes the Kenya Meteorological department which predicts weather patterns especially during heavy rains so as to prepare to efficient evacuation. Also the Kenya Building Society, the County Building Inspectorate, the National Highways Authority and other stakeholders in coordination of rescue efforts.

This write-up would have been different if the County governments in Kenya had taken a team of fire professionals to Australia to learn from their colleagues in the industry and implement the skills in their own Counties. Given the opportunity to visit Australia, I would instead put the concept of bushfires in academically acknowledged books for the Kenyan professionals to appreciate planning and resource allocation in fire disaster management.

The Author is a student of PhD Projects Management focusing on fire service delivery at JKUAT Juja Main Campus.

Is there a law regulating requirement of elevators in buildings in Kenya?

 

Listening to a local channel one morning after a wave of building collapse disasters in Kenya in the month of December 2014, one official of an international rescue company gave an advice that all buildings that have at least four floors should have elevators and the residence while looking for a place to stay should the lack of an elevator should be a tale tell sign that the building is not safe. According to this rescue official, the lack of a lift means the building is not safe for occupancy, and again there was no direct reference to a law that prohibits building this. The question therefore, is there a law in Kenya that regulates the requirement of elevators in building in Kenya?

The Building Code of the Republic of Kenya (2009 Edition) requires elevators to be included in the building design should it exceed four floors. A writer of the Star Newspaper, James Murua, in his article “The elevators are soon coming fast and furious” paints a picture of Kenyans living in its capital as the most affected in terms of building past the fourth floor without lifts. For the approving authorities it is the building plan that is usually approved, which in essence as a requirement by the law for buildings beyond fourth floor have an elevator as part of the plan. But in all the scenarios it seems Kenyans have embraced the lack of these elevators as a way of life and some have not even seen what elevators are let along it being a requirement. It is therefore important for the building regulation authorities to ensure that the law on elevators is implemented candidly and specifically for the areas where regulations with the code have not been adhered to.

Benard., L., (2014): Is there a law regulating requirement of elevators in buildings in Kenya? Intel Fire Group Blog. Nairobi, Kenya.