Why fire safety week in Kenya needs to do more than providing a platform for private fire service companies to advertise themselves.

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 9^th 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 9^th 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 3^rd to 6^th 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

Contact – info@intelfiregroup.com / www.intelfiregroup.com