News
Capital ill-prepared for disasters
Posted Wednesday, January 28 2009 at 22:16
The country’s capacity to respond to emergencies was on Wednesday put to the test. Twelve fire engines rushed to the scene in quick succession after the fire outbreak, only for most operators to realise they had no water.
The engines were drawn from the City Council, G4S and Securex security firms, Kenya Airports Authority and the military. Trucks that normally sell water in city estates ended up feeding the fire engines.
An anti-riot truck was also used to try to extinguish the fire that was fuelled by gas cylinder in the store. At one point, the fire engines seemed to be running out of water as the fire spread to the adjacent Alibhai Shariff store.
At the nearby Nation Centre, security guards fixed water pipes in an attempt to save the situation but their water also ran out. Save for Urban Fire Services run by G4S, all the other response teams seemed ill-prepared for the operation.
Most of the fire fighters did not even wear protective gear.
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Submitted by naliweliwaloPosted January 29, 2009 01:13 PM
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Submitted by olegaita66
Rigorous distaster response training is necessary on a regular basis.Laws and standards pertaining fire prevention and safety be enforced in every city building throughout Kenya
Posted January 29, 2009 08:57 AM -
Submitted by wuod_aketch
It is like in a comic movie. Fire the fire chief. He is incompetent and sleeping on the job. Majiwa has his job cut. But some of these things just need common sense. A regular check of the fire hydrant points might saved the situation. Fire engines worth millions without water are in fact useless in the case of an emergency like this. I cannot imagine the panic if a fire struck those high rise buildings. Those fire fighter are paid to daydream. The fire chief and his deputy must be a guys from my tribe.
Posted January 29, 2009 01:45 AM
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I remember articles a few years ago showing the state of the firefighting department of the city council. No gear, a few functioning trucks, poor pay and training, etc. What if the fire was a chemical one, would they have been able to put it out? Do they have foam? Please rehabilitate this department as a priority.