Abstract:
Fire incidents have been on the rise in the country with urban markets experiencing
devastating property loss and business disturbances. However, the public has been
putting the blame on the local authority as it the one mandated to prevent and
respond to fire outbreaks. This report presents a study conducted in Mazabuka at the
municipal council and urban markets from February to May 2018.The aim of the
study was investigate fire incidence preparedness by Mazabuka municipal council in
urban markets. This was done by establishing human capacity and equipment,
determining major preparedness projects undertaken in Mazabuka urban markets and
challenges faced by the fire department. The research design used was a descriptive
and the major approach was qualitative. The sampling techniques used included;
purposive sampling, convenience sampling and simple random sampling. Fire
officers at the department and the market committee members from urban markets
were interviewed through focus group discussions to examine current information on
fire incidence preparedness whereas the chief fire officer and the market master were
administered with questionnaires and also interviews were done. The findings
indicated that the majority of the personnel at Mazabuka municipal council fire
department were still mere fire officers whereas four officers had other ranks and
they had only 14 officers at the department. The council also had a water tender with
modern equipment, a good conditioned ambulance and utility van. To propel
preparedness the following projects were being implemented and these were; fire
drills in markets, trainings in markets and private institutions, public awareness, fire
inspections and stakeholder collaboration .However, the following challenges were
being faced; lack of adequate man power, erratic water supply, and lack of effective
communication system and unavailability of a substation for quick response in areas
far from the station in urban district. The general situation indicated that Mazabuka
municipal council fire department was not well prepared to manage fire outbreaks
meaning that plans to rectify the situation are cardinal.
