Crisis could have been prevented, say experts

PHOTO | BILLY MUTAI A stranded traveller waits at JKIA after flights were cancelled following a fire at the arrivals terminal.

Wednesday’s inferno could have been avoided with prompt response, according to aviation experts.

International standards require that airports respond to fires in less than three minutes.

“For such a sensitive installation to be brought down by fire, the JKIA disaster preparedness, contingency planning and even response capabilities stand highly questionable,” said Captain Ahmed Taib, an aviation safety and security specialist.

He continued: “The cardinal rule of contingency planning, particularly within an airport is that rescue and fire fighting services respond below three minutes.”

Capt Taib said testing of the plans, preparedness, prevention, response and recovery must be done periodically.

According to the director of the National Disaster Operations, Col Nathan Kigotho, the unit sent fire engines between 30 and 40 minutes after the fire broke out.

“We mobilised fire-fighting resources and the first to arrive were from the National Youth Service, the Nairobi Fire Brigade and the Kenya Defence Forces,” Col Kigotho said.

Twelve firefighters were sent to the scene. Col Kigotho said his team expected the airport fire-fighting engines to have arrived at the scene immediately after the fire broke out.

One fire engine

The airport has only three fire engines instead of the recommended eight and only two were in working condition when the fire started.

“When the fire broke out there was only one engine at the scene,” said Mr Francis Liech, Kenya National Fire Brigades Association secretary.

The airport’s distance from the nearest fire stations also makes it difficult to salvage much in the event of an emergency.