What Kampala needs to fight fires
Feb 27, 2009
FIRE Masters, the company that helped the Police to put out the Owino market fire said one of the reasons it took them long to extinguish the raging fire was because there were no hydrants (water points) in the vicinity. The trucks had to keep moving back
By Ben Okiror
FIRE Masters, the company that helped the Police to put out the Owino market fire said one of the reasons it took them long to extinguish the raging fire was because there were no hydrants (water points) in the vicinity. The trucks had to keep moving back and forth to the Fire Brigade offices for water.
The managing director, Martin Stokes, said he received a call from the Police at 6:11am and the first truck left their fire station in Kibuli two minutes later, arriving at the scene in less than five minutes. However, with four fire trucks and 24 fire fighters on site, the company was only able to put out the fire about six hours later.
Although Kampala used to have 2000 hydrants in the 1960s, he said, there are now less than 100.
Some of them were destroyed in the process of developing the city and others apparently filled with concrete by the NWSC after accusing some Fire Brigade employees for selling the water in hydrants.
The water body is supposed to provide hydrants, in all publicly accessible sites, whose water is to be freely used in fire fighting.
Stokes blames the police officer who first arrived at the site for poorly assessing the extent of the fire and for calling them when the situation was out of control.
He also faults Police for not expediting the discussion initiated by Fire Masters in which Police would pay a certain amount of money whenever the company responds to their call. He says although the arrangement would not make much business sense, it would go a long way in minimising damage caused by fires.
Their willingness to respond to the Owino fire alarm, Stokes said, was more because they have entered into agreement with Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) than because the Police called. He suspects Police only called him after the Entebbe Airport crew delayed.
Under the arrangement, Fire Masters is to inspect KACITA member business premises with a view to improving their fire safety. They will then install fire detection, fire extinguishers, board signs and other things.
The company will also take tenants through fire drills and train workers on how to correctly handle fire outbreaks.
Probably if Kampala City Council had granted Fire Masters’ proposal to manage fires in the city, most of the fires that have been recently experienced would not have been that destructive.
Stokes says that they first submitted a proposal to KCC in 2005 where they sought to secure the city from fires. A year later, they submitted a second one but the city authorities have been dragging their feet.
In the proposal, the company promised to build a fire station in each of the five city divisions within three years. They would then furnish each station with four fire trucks and two ambulances each, manned by 24 people.
Other activities Fire Masters proposed to do include inspecting electrical wiring in city buildings and providing certificates of occupancy before they are used. For now, only subscribers enjoy the privilege of having their calls responded to by Fire Masters.
FIRE Masters, the company that helped the Police to put out the Owino market fire said one of the reasons it took them long to extinguish the raging fire was because there were no hydrants (water points) in the vicinity. The trucks had to keep moving back and forth to the Fire Brigade offices for water.
The managing director, Martin Stokes, said he received a call from the Police at 6:11am and the first truck left their fire station in Kibuli two minutes later, arriving at the scene in less than five minutes. However, with four fire trucks and 24 fire fighters on site, the company was only able to put out the fire about six hours later.
Although Kampala used to have 2000 hydrants in the 1960s, he said, there are now less than 100.
Some of them were destroyed in the process of developing the city and others apparently filled with concrete by the NWSC after accusing some Fire Brigade employees for selling the water in hydrants.
The water body is supposed to provide hydrants, in all publicly accessible sites, whose water is to be freely used in fire fighting.
Stokes blames the police officer who first arrived at the site for poorly assessing the extent of the fire and for calling them when the situation was out of control.
He also faults Police for not expediting the discussion initiated by Fire Masters in which Police would pay a certain amount of money whenever the company responds to their call. He says although the arrangement would not make much business sense, it would go a long way in minimising damage caused by fires.
Their willingness to respond to the Owino fire alarm, Stokes said, was more because they have entered into agreement with Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) than because the Police called. He suspects Police only called him after the Entebbe Airport crew delayed.
Under the arrangement, Fire Masters is to inspect KACITA member business premises with a view to improving their fire safety. They will then install fire detection, fire extinguishers, board signs and other things.
The company will also take tenants through fire drills and train workers on how to correctly handle fire outbreaks.
Probably if Kampala City Council had granted Fire Masters’ proposal to manage fires in the city, most of the fires that have been recently experienced would not have been that destructive.
Stokes says that they first submitted a proposal to KCC in 2005 where they sought to secure the city from fires. A year later, they submitted a second one but the city authorities have been dragging their feet.
In the proposal, the company promised to build a fire station in each of the five city divisions within three years. They would then furnish each station with four fire trucks and two ambulances each, manned by 24 people.
Other activities Fire Masters proposed to do include inspecting electrical wiring in city buildings and providing certificates of occupancy before they are used. For now, only subscribers enjoy the privilege of having their calls responded to by Fire Masters.