| dc.description.abstract | Fire has been quite critical in the daily life of mankind from time immemorial. Traditionally fire was used in landscape modification such as coppicing basket materials, clearing bush for ease of travel and hunting, removing thatch in late fall to promote wildflower seeds, clearing ground for food gathering as well as general burning to revitalize plant communities for greater abundance. Fire has also been previously used for cooking, steam bending wood, hunting, smoking hides and meat to preserve, softening tar and pitch for adhesive, heat treating stones for tools, wood working, charcoal burning, charring to preserve house posts from insects and rot, smudge fires to repel mosquitoes, fire to repel predators, heating shelters, lighting, smoking tobacco and medicines, cauterizing wounds, communication signaling, steaming and during ceremonies. Fire is today considered as being a significant tool for humans by playing the most important roles in daily lives including heating, lighting, cooking, energy, blacksmithing and landscaping.
Kenya as a developing country is characterized by increasing industrial and urban growth leading to greater use of materials and energy. These industrial products trigger fires through scientific processes hence triggering fire cases. Several cases of fires have occurred with mostly destruction of property and loss of lives being reported. Urban disasters especially fires have tended to receive a baffling lack of response from aid agencies indicating major gaps in urban preparedness. This shows Kenya is faced with inadequacy in responding to fire disasters of high magnitude. Rescue teams have failed in many of this occasions to live up to their billing by either arriving late at tragedy struck scenes or making it on time but half equipped hence failing to counter the tragedy.
Chapter one has outlined the problem in that fires have frequently occurred in different commercial buildings leading to several deaths and destruction of property hence raising questions as to occupants’ safety.
Chapter two reviews literature related to fire safety in terms of prevention, mitigation and preparedness and the essentials of these in commercial buildings. These were obtained from books, journals, newspaper supplements, internet and online databases. Chapter three presents Research methodology which will be through questionnaires, interviews and observations. This will fulfill the researchers aim to raise awareness as to fire safety problems relating to commercial buildings.
Chapter Four presents the results of the study which have been discussed under thematic sub- sections in line with research objectives. The themes include; assessing fire Safety measures adopted by owners of buildings, assessing level of preparedness among the occupants in the buildings, assessing the level of preparedness of local authorities and providing recommendations on Mitigation measures to improve on Fire Safety in the buildings. The most important findings are that most buildings lack enough fire equipment, most owners/managers/occupiers and local authorities are ill prepared to handle fire emergencies, and that education of all stakeholders will play a vital role in improving fire safety.
Chapter Five presents the summary of findings, conclusions and recommendations for the study. It was established that adequate fire safety measures are not in place and therefore ought to be established. It recommends that owners and property managers should involve fire experts in fire safety, inspection of the firefighting infrastructure, and enhancing Fire safety measures and programmes. Areas for further research are also suggested including compliance level or aspect of building owners and property managers to the relevant fire by laws, effect of design on preparedness and mitigation measures adopted by owners and property managers and fire preparedness and mitigation in residential buildings where most fires occur. | en |
