The county government of Mombasa has embarked on a fire safety inspection exercise covering all learning institutions and premises domiciled in the coastal city.
The directive was issued by area Governor, Abdulswamad Sharif Nassir, following the recent school fire tragedy at Utumishi Girls Senior School in Gilgil, Nakuru County.
The school fire blamed on an arson attack killed 16 learners and wounded 79 others. Eight students have since been arrested following the inferno and are set to be arraigned in court next week.
School authorities should ensure provision of fire extinguishers in all important rooms frequented by students.
Dormitories must have three double doors opening to the outside, one of them being on the side and marked emergency exit.
The Nakuru school tragedy comes barely two years after the Hillside Endarasha Academy inferno in Nyeri County that claimed 21 lives.
The Mombasa exercise will incorporate a series of fire safety sensitization programmes aimed at equipping learners and educators with knowledge on fire prevention and appropriate response during emergencies.
Governor Nassir says the exercise covers all public and private learning institutions, including primary and secondary schools, colleges, universities, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.
He said the devolved government remains committed to the safety, welfare, and protection of all residents, particularly children within the schools.
Nassir said the exercise is being undertaken by the County Fire Department in collaboration with relevant county agencies with the objective of assessing fire preparedness, emergency response systems, evacuation procedures, electrical safety standards and the general compliance of public institutions with fire safety requirements.
“No fees or inspection charges shall be levied against the institutions during this countywide exercise,” he said, adding that the county must ensure the safety of school children.
The inspection fire brigade teams are under the supervision of Dan Manyala, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Transport and Infrastructure.
The coastal county boss said the intervention is aimed at safeguarding the lives of learners, teaching staff, and non-teaching staff while strengthening disaster preparedness of all the institutions.
“Institutional heads are therefore requested to accord the county inspection teams full cooperation during the exercise,” he said.
The county will also be enforcing the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) guidelines banning the unauthorized and illegal sale of petroleum products to minors to eliminate fire hazards in schools.
The schools are required to have functional fire extinguishers, audible fire alarms, emergency water systems, and emergency exit doors.
Others are that windows of laboratories, classrooms, and staff rooms should not be grilled and doors should open outwardly for the safety of students in case of stampeding during tragedies.
By Hussein Abdullahi
