Fire Department, Red Cross to train students on fire fighting procedures

BY MUTAI KIPNGETICH, KNA 

The Kirinyaga County Fire Department and Kenya Red Cross will embark on a training program targeting students and the community on handling fire emergencies. 

The training will involve drills in various scenarios aimed at reducing injuries during such incidents. 

John Kiama, the Head of the County Fire Department, stated that when students are knowledgeable about safety procedures, it becomes easier and safer for them to escape danger. 

While conducting drills with first-aid providers in Kerugoya, Kiama emphasized that the department’s primary role is to extinguish fires, conduct searches for missing persons, and hand over to the Red Cross for first aid services. 

“We have been joined by first-aid providers for these fire drills because fire incidents can cause injuries beyond just burns. Our goal is to ensure that the extent of damage is significantly reduced and, ideally, prevented,” Kiama said. 

He noted that, for accountability, all schools must establish a fire assembly point where all pupils can converge in an emergency, making identification and search missions more efficient. He recalled a past incident where students fled to the neighborhood instead of going to designated fire safety points.

“We have seen pupils running to neighbours in case of school fire, all schools must have a fire assembly point where it will make rescues and accountability fast,” he said. 

He added that teachers received the training positively and have been placing requests for their students to be trained. 

Immaculate Itemba, Red Cross Kirinyaga Chapter, said the collaboration with the Red Cross will start with visiting schools and training them how to evacuate from fireplaces and later extend drills to larger communities. 

The Red Cross mainly offers first aid services but has chosen a multi-sectoral approach to equip students with all necessary skills and steps to reduce injuries. 

“We are focusing currently on students to train on how to evacuate safely, procedures to follow until handing over to relevant teams,” she said. 

She said it is the role of all people to prevent fire incidents and in case it happens everyone has basic skills on how to handle it under different conditions. 

“It is our collective responsibility to ensure we prevent and control fire during an emergency, we hope training will reduce incidents and enhance the rescue procedures,” she added. 

The fire drill at Kerugoya brought together first-aid providers from various departments at institutions then after, part of the teams visited various schools.