Author Reference
Benard, L. (2015): Why fire safety week in Kenya needs to do
more than providing a platform for private fire service companies to advertise themselves.
Intel Fire Group of Companies Blog. Nairobi, Kenya.
Why fire safety week in Kenya needs to do
more than providing a platform for private fire service companies to advertise themselves.
The
concept fire safety week or prevention week historically was first conceived to
commemorate the tragic Chicago Fire of October 9, 1871 that killed more than
250 people leaving 100, 000 homeless and destroying more than 17, 400
structures as it burned more than 2, 000 acres. The National Fire Protection
Association (NFPA) while documenting the history of “fire prevention week” as it became popularly known over the years
notes that the day has been observed on the days ranging from the a day to 9th
October all through to two days or more after. From studies, the President of
United States or POTUS if you like, signed a proclamation proclaiming a
national observance during the week of October 9th every year since
1925. So that it is clear, the fire prevention week is the longest running
public health and safety observance on record.
The
International Fire Marshals Association (IFMA) (renamed from Fire Marshals
Association of North America) decided that the anniversary of the Great Chicago
Fire should hence forth not be observed with festivities but with keeping the
members of the public informed about the importance of fire prevention. Against
this background the author would like to believe, the Fire Safety Week was conceived.
Even though for Kenya this event will be held from August 3rd to 6th
2015, it is important that the issues surrounding fire safety week in Kenya are
addressed to make it a viable thematic where the campaign leaders are the major
players in public fire safety service. As its inception was conceived so should
its life by ensuring the various public fire stations in Kenya are fully involved and
not just Nairobi based, albeit private stations.
How private players view
the fire safety week
Unless
the author is not referring from viable records, many of the organizations
and companies that participate in Fire Safety Week in Kenya are privately owned
and driven with profit mind. In Kenya, public fire safety services are in most
instances free and provided for by the national and county fire
stations. For members of the public who are able to afford private fire
services, the law provides clear guidelines on their mandate and the
legal charges. So what would motivate a private fire service provider to organize
a fire prevention week, leave alone participate in one? Your guess will be as
good as mine, MONEY.
This
is the only period the private fire companies get to be listed in free
advertisements through local tv stations, newsprints, and not forgetting the gist
which is the long processions with their fleets and branded uniforms for the occasion.
It is also time for these companies to present their latest fire service
response facilities that the government is yet to acquire and brag how their
services are unrivaled in the industry where only they rule. The author does
not in any way intend to victimize any of the private companies but it should also
be noted that the drive for more profit in a field where no one question
activities can just be that, MARKETING. So you know that the private players
will view this week as a free MARKETING campaign period coupled with allowances
for the participating individuals.
How pubic fire stations
view fire safety week
Public
fire stations in Kenya should be the frontiers of fire safety week in Kenya.
Yes, the idea can be initiated by privately owned fire stations, a humanitarian
organization or even by a government parastatal, but the buck stops with the
public fire stations. As things currently stand and going with this year’s
(2015) fire safety week, the public fire stations are merely participants of
the event that is organized by an entity which is a forum. Even though the
forum organizing this event meant well in initiating the process, the public
fire stations remains the best custodians of fire safety week. This is because
some of the entities forming the forum are not directly involved in fire
service delivery and again the private fire service providers that form the
most of the members are driven by profits and will be geared more towards advertising what
they have on the pretext of sensitization.
A
spot check across the country reveal that most of the county fire stations are not
aware of fire safety week and for those that are aware the belief is that the
event is being organized at the capital with participating entities from the
regions close to the capital. Yet to some stations the fire safety week is a “non-issue”
as the station itself lack the basic response equipment. From studies it is
also evident that some fire stations at the counties are under strict protocols
and organization of such as event must be sanctioned by top county individual
whose docket the fire stations fall.
Way forward
As
mentioned earlier, for fire safety week thematic in Kenya to strive and reach
great strides in fire safety protection and prevention, the county fire stations must be
custodian. Kenya has 47 counties and each county by law is required to have a
fire station which from the author’s point of observation and studies somewhere
in this blog, already exist. Each of these fire stations should be motivated in
terms of capacity to hold fire safety week within their various counties. Conducting
a fire safety campaign in Nairobi slums by fire stations from other stations
not resident of Nairobi is not only misguided but does not give the other
unfortunate county members opportunities for safe fire knowledge. Each public
county fire station is able to organize their own fire safety week and target a
slum within their jurisdiction and achieve a lot more than going to a
centralized campaign.
Private
fire service providers play an important role in the societies in which they
operate. But the role of private companies in offering fire services should not supersede
that of the public fire service. These companies might have the best devices
and training there is but they must collaborate with the local County Fire
Stations during fire safety week sensitization. This does not mean that one
plays second field to the other but it should be understood that when it comes
to Public Fire Safety, the National and County Fire Safety takes the leading
roles.
The Author is a Research Generalist
in Projects Management Specializing in Safety Service Delivery
To deepen the understanding of participants on the issues involved in
managing disasters.
