The role of firefighters undergoes drastic changed

Nakuru, Tuesday, June 20, 2023

KNA by Veronica Bosibori/Moses Mbaru

The Nakuru County Disaster Management Officer Mr. John Muchai has said that the role of firefighters has been changed by the imminent climate variations worldwide and they are no longer just expected to put out fires but to be at the forefront of disaster prevention.

Muchai who was speaking today said the county government has revamped the firefighting department into a directorate to enable them to manage the extended duties of prevention, mitigation, preparedness, and providing humanitarian assistance to affected communities.  

To fulfill their new responsibilities, firefighters today visited a widow Mrs. Mary Wanjiku, a mother of six children whose house at Kambi ya Muchiri in Nakuru East Constituency was razed down by a ferocious fire that destroyed everything over the weekend. The cause of the fire is still unknown. 

They donated mattresses, bedding, iron sheets, and assorted foodstuffs worth Sh250,000 to enable the family to restore their lives and ensure enough food provision as they construct a new home. 

During the meeting, the firefighters trained the community on safety measures and explained to them the new framework of the firefighting department, which will concentrate more on disaster prevention than just firefighting as properties get destroyed.

Muchai said, “unlike in the past, we are prepared for any form of disasters, including floods faster than before, and to walk with families and communities through their recovery journey until they stabilize.”

He noted that the county was prone to disasters such as fires, flash floods, gullies, accidents, and conflicts. However, he said fire was the most prominent catastrophe, especially in areas with informal settlements such as Naivasha, Gigil, Elburgon, and Molo.

Additionally, Muchai said the highest cases of fire were witnessed during the recent prolonged droughts with an average of three fires per day, where the month of February this year was ranked the worst because it recorded 120 fire outbreaks.

“But the four fire engines and other agencies assisted in putting them out faster than before,” he said.   

The MCA for the area Mr, Julius Ngeru said the County Assembly participated and supported the expanded mandate of the firefighting department due to the realization that climate change was more likely to increase disasters. 

Additionally, he said just putting out fires and leaving wananchi to struggle on their own during any form of crisis, was not only unfair but it portrayed uncaring attitudes from people they have voted in.

Ngeru said the heartwarming display of unity for the widow and her children serves as a reminder that if communities work together nothing was impossible, including the vagrancies of climate change.    

Courtesy ; K. N. A