Are we taking the fire tragedies in Kampala lightly?

Jun 30, 2008

EERY month, at least 45 fire incidents in Kampala are reported to the fire brigade station. Though few lives are lost, Kampala fires have become so rampant.

By Frederick Womakuyu

EERY month, at least 45 fire incidents in Kampala are reported to the fire brigade station. Though few lives are lost, Kampala fires have become so rampant.

Frequent fire outbreaks in the country raise worries about the safety of our population, especially in institutions, commercial and residential areas.

In April, 20 girls of Budo Junior School were burnt to death when a mysterious fire gutted their dormitory.

Last weekend a dormitory block was burnt at Seeta High School. The Police in its report on schools fires, said arson was strongly suspected in 10 of the 24 fires, with vengeful and ill-mannered students the suspected arsonists. Only one of the suspected arson cases was attributed to business rivalry.

Two weeks ago, a group of suspected arsonists at Nicaragua Primary School in Wakiso set ablaze the institution’s dormitory. No one has been arrested but the Police recorded statements from parents, teachers and house masters.

But most in Kampala fire outbreaks are common in institutions of higher learning, restaurants, hotels, ware houses, stores, factories, workshops, automobiles, wooden and grass-thatched houses, bushes and farms.

Other affected places are markets, rubbish heaps and electrical installations.

Between 2003 and 2007, there were 2, 214 fire incidents in various places in Kampala.

In that period, 263 people died of fire and 152 were injured.

The fire brigade adds that between 2003 and 2007, there were 229 fire incidents in Central Division, Nakawa 127, Rubaga 158, Kawempe 137 and Makindye 153.

Fire Brigade chief, Lawrence Adima says one would expect that with the frequency of fires, managers should take caution to install fire-fighting equipment in their offices.

It would also be expected that fire drills and first aid form part of the weekly activities in any office or industry.

Adima says managers and those in charge of institutions, school and businesses should avoid overcrowding.

Engineer Moses Byandala, from the Ministry of Works, who inspected many construction works on fire safety in Kampala, says everywhere contractors and managers show acute lack of interest in fire and safety measures. “In many buildings, fire safety measures are not taken into consideration.”

He adds that many building works run on a tight budget and cannot afford fire-fighting equipment. A portable fire extinguisher costs above sh200,000.

“In an ideal situation, fire-fighting training, should be an integral part of nationand put on the national co-curricular activities, where the fire brigade can teach them safety measures in case of a fire free of charge,” says Adima

Fire-fighters, like the army and the Police, form an integral part of the national security system. Adima says the other cause of fire is that few places of business are situated near open water sources like ponds and rivers; a majority have limited water supply. “There’s need for public institutions, business premises and offices to provide fire hydrants to be used in cases of emergency.

“Most city suburbs like Namuwongo, Kabalagala, are not connected to hydrants and are likely to suffer great losses in an event of a fire,” said Adima.

Peter Musana of Planning Unit, Enel Construction and Architectural Works says Kampala City Council (KCC) is ill-prepared to fight fires. “KCC is barely capable of handling fire emergencies. They hardly have fire extinguishers, water tanks and personnel,” he adds. “Furthermore, low public awareness of safety engineering works and poor planning of the city means there is little support towards fire brigades.”

For instance, he says the many slum areas with wooden shacks contribute to fire outbreaks.

“Many people in slums use candles and this contributes to many fire outbreaks. When one wooden shack catches fire, it spreads to another creating a chain,”says Musana. “Slum shacks barely have fire extinguishers.”

He points out that when the authorities were planning for Kampala, they had planned for a small population at the time, but with the increase in population and construction many buildings have been constructed close to flammable facilities.

“A typical example are the various schools next to the Caltex depot. If a fire accident happens there, I fear for them. Everybody staying next to it will burn to death,” says Musana. He argues that many schools in the city like Kampala Parents School are constructed under high power lines. “This school is located in a risky place. If a fire or electrical short circuit accident takes place, they risk losing all the children and the buildings.”

He says the transport system is also not safe either. Most of the buses and taxis have metallic emergency exits and in case of a fire outbreak, majority of the occupants cannot escape.

“The behind seats in taxis and buses cover the emergency escape route, making it hard for people to escape in case of a fire. Many of the taxis have no fire-fighting equipment and if they have the cans, they either do not know how to use them or the cans are empty.”

Musana says the taxi and bus parks are not any better. They are congested, with no fire safety measures in place.

He says a survey of all the markets in Kampala, St. Balikuddembe (Owino), Nakawa, Bugolobi and Nakasero showed that the markets had no fire safety measures in place.

“Many people in these markets cook on dangerous electricity gadgets, and they are congested,” says Musana.

Besides fire safety measures, Adima says the fire brigade is bogged down by its own problems.

The whole of Kampala has three water tanks, which also operate in the districts of Wakiso, Mukono, Nakasongola and the northern region.

Adima says the fire brigade needs almost sh3b to revamp the fire sector.

Adima says the country’s fire brigade sections in major towns are a full-time professional fire fighting force but lack of facilities have continued to hamper their efforts.

Byandala decries the poor location of the Kampala fire station. He argues that fire-fighters find it difficult to respond quickly to fires because of heavy traffic jam that block the trucks.

Byandala wants the fire station relocated from the Clock Tower, but Adima wants the fire services decentralised to smaller stations in various parts of Kampala to serve different divisions.

“If we can have a fire station in Nakawa, another in Kisenyi and another in Kyambogo, it would help increase the efficiency and speed of reaching a fire scene.”

Adima wants the Government to provide for a department of fire and ambulance services.

He also feels that there is need to form teams of paid and volunteer firemen in every district to prevent, detect and extinguish fires, the way the ministry of agriculture has extension officers.

Byandala calls for the establishment of a central training school to standardise a fire training curriculum.

Most fire-fighters are trained on the job and the quality of the training is wanting.

Fire safety Tips
-Avoid overcrowded places
-Create many exit routes per building
- Do not lock doors from outside when people are inside.

-Different people can keep emergency keys to a house or building.
-In offices, always have fire extinguishers and carry out fire drills with employees

-Construct houses or building with fire escape routes
-Avoid building under high voltage lines and near petrol stations

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