Factors Influencing Fire Service Delivery: A Case Of Fire Stations In Kiambu County, Kenya

Abstract

Factors influencing fire service delivery is essential to reform the emergency sector and meet the safety needs of the present while improving on its future advances. By improving on services that are provided for free like fire service, the fire stations can enhance effectiveness and efficiency thereby increasing its responders productivity and satisfaction while at the same time streamline to a minimum the response time and administrative systems that are key in meeting the expectations of the members of the public who are the consumers of fire service delivery. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the factors influencing fire service delivery at the county fire stations. The objectives of this study were; to examine the influence of fire stations staff skills in delivery of fire services in Kiambu County; to evaluate how time taken to respond to reported emergencies issues affect fire service delivery in Kiambu County; to establish the influence of top management support in the fire service delivery in Kiambu County and finally, to establish the influence of conditional external pressure in fire service in Kiambu County. Based on theories from fire service delivery literature, a conceptual framework for the fire service delivery has been developed. This study used mixed method research approach and applies the concurrent design. The total population size was 152 with the sampling size being 108 selected from the various strata which were the fire station commanders, heads of department, ambulance attendants, first aiders and the fire marshals. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaire, interview guide and observation method. The collected data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Scientist Software (SPSS). The results of the study were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics and the results were presented using tables. The findings of the study revealed that factors that influence fire service delivery are the fire staff skills, top management influence, the work environment and the conditional external pressure. The study further provides recommendation on improvements and policy measures on fire service delivery at the county level.