Factors influencing fire disaster preparedness in the central business District of Nyeri town,Nyeri county

Abstract

Each year people die or are seriously injured as a result of fires at work. Besides loss of life, fire costs Kenya millions of shillings from damage of property, loss of business, fire compensation and insurance premiums. Many of these fires can be avoided by taking fire precautions. If a fire breaks out a lot of the effects can be minimised by having effective controls and procedures in place. Statistics fromNyeri Fire Department show that a hundred and twelve (112) fire outbreaks have been experienced in Nyeri Municipality between the years 2011 and 2012. Fifty one per cent of these fires have occurred in buildings within Nyeri Central Business District (Nyeri Fire Department). The property destruction between January 2011 and January 2012 is estimated at thirtyseven (37) million shillings. Eleven people have also lost their liveswithin the same period of time. A disconnect however exists between the frequency and magnitude of the fire outbreaks inurban centresand thelevel of preparedness. Thistherefore hasled tothe need of undertakinga study to make an assessment of the factors influencing fire disaster preparedness in the Nyeri Central Business District. Specifically the study assessed how independent variables like level of fire safety awareness, value of investment, nature of investment and municipal fire preparedness bylaws influence fire disaster preparedness which is the dependent variable. The purpose of the study is to establish the factors that influence fire disaster preparedness in the Central Business District of Nyeri Town. The objectives were to establish how fire safety awareness, value of investment, municipal fire preparedness bylaws and nature of investment influence fire disaster preparedness. The study used descriptive survey design. Probability sampling procedure was applied. It was carried out on one hundred and seventy two [172] tenants and fifty three [53] landlord/ladies who were selected through stratified random sampling method. This gave a total of two hundred and twenty five [225] respondents. Questionnaires with both closed and open ended questions were used in the collection of data. The findings were then edited, coded, classified and analysed using descriptive statistics then presented with the use of tables. The studyfound that the level of fire safetyawareness is verylow and the municipal council does not inspect compliance with fire disaster preparedness bylaws. The study recommended that The Nyeri Municipal Council should organise training for the Nyeri residents and also ensure regular inspection on compliance with firedisaster preparedness.