URBAN FIRE DISASTER, A CASE STUDY DAMATURU YOBE STATE
ABSTRACT
In most urban areas including Yobe State City, fire disasters have been blamed on poor management regime that lacks requisite efficiency and effectiveness to prevent, mitigate, respond or recover from fire disasters if and when they occur. Against this background, this study set out to contribute to a solution through four general objectives in respect to Yobe State area: (i) develop a profile of roles of various stakeholders in fire disaster management;
- determine the nature of stakeholders collaborations in the management of fire disasters;
- assess the individual and combined capacity of stakeholders and how it influences efficiency and effectiveness of fire disaster management; and (iv) suggest ways in which strengthening of interventions against fire disasters can be The specific objectives of the study were to: (i) examine the contributions of policy framework, (ii) assess the engagement of stakeholders’ relationships, (iii) determine the efficiency of technological capacity of stakeholders’ and (iv) assess the level of stakeholders’ awareness and their influence on fire disaster management in Yobe State. To achieve this, the Study used the correlation research design. The target population involved all the fire disaster management agencies in Yobe State as indicated in the Yobe State National Disaster Response Plan (2009,) selected using Purposeful sampling procedure. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected by use of questionnaires. Qualitative data was subjected to a thematic analysis while the Quantitative data were analyzed by use of descriptive and inferential statistics. Bivariate correlation analysis was used to determine the degree of relationship between variables using Pearson’s correlation. The intention was to determine whether the independent variables (effectiveness of policy framework, effectiveness of stakeholder relationship, level of stakeholder awareness and technological capacity of stakeholder) together predict a given dependent variable (fire disaster management). Based on the findings, the study concluded that policy framework, Stakeholder awareness and, stakeholder technological capacity all have a minimum but positive influence on the fire disaster management. However, Stakeholder involvement presented a relatively strong relationship with the fire disaster management for the Yobe State. Recommendations of the study are that the Yobe State Government needs to appoint a task force to formulate effective policy framework on fire disaster management which should come up with an integrated approach to collaboration and coordination of all the stakeholders involved in fire disaster Management to ensure seamless management of the frequent fire outbreaks. Furthermore, the researcher acknowledges the fact that this study did not cover all the areas of fire disaster management and suggests that further research on the area of fire disaster prevention be carried out since it can assist in stopping or reducing the effects of these disasters on the onset.
CHAPTERONE
INTRODUCTION
1.0 Background
The recent decades have experienced a rise in natural disasters as a result of which social development as well as political and economic activities have been adversely affected (Munasinghe 2014). The impacts of these disasters are either tangible or intangible depending on their nature, and their effects may be direct or indirect. The direct impacts may include issues such as actual bodily harm which may course disabilities, forced relocations, interruption of social amenities, and loss of property and livelihoods, while the indirect impacts are related to general responsibility taken by individuals or the state in taking care of the victims of these disasters. According to the Nigerian government, (2009), any event that courses serious disruption in the way the society or community lives coursing serious human, economic, environmental and material loses can be classified as a disaster. This occurrence almost always leads devastating effects on health status, disruption of ordinary services such as water power, communication and serious effects on businesses/ livelihoods (GOK, 2009). To be classified as a disaster, this situation should be so serious that the affected communities cannot cope with it within its available economic capacity and therefore calls for external assistance EMA. (1998.) Assistance comes in form of rapid response; transfer to health facilities and / or morgues, and in most cases rehabilitation and reconstruction of affected services. From the foregoing, it therefore follows that anything that creates a situation that would lead to that or similar occurrence is a potential disaster risk.
Urbanization leads to increased house density; a situation that is experienced in both planned and unplanned settlements the world over. As a result of this, the fire brigades are unable to access into settlements, which aggravates fire disaster risks (Isabela Wilfred Mtani and Mbuya 2018). Recurrent fire catastrophes are also frequent in crowded central business districts (CBDs) and markets (Oladokun & Emmanuel 2014). Henk (2004) observes that with this general increase in disasters globally fire disasters take the lead. Masellis M., Ferrara M.M., Gunn S.W.A. (1999) states that the effects of tragedies brought about by fire have continued to change over the centuries, especially in the twentieth. Fire disasters that occurred between 1900 all the way to 1969 were mainly to lack of prevention and poor safety regulations not to mention the evacuation plans that lack coordination. This resulted to preventable fire accidents that occurred in theaters, schools, nightclubs and even hospitals coursing serious casualties in death and disfigurement, loss of property and environmental
destruction. This study focuses on the role of various stakeholders and agencies involved in fire disaster management to find out if these roles are well understood by these agencies and the citizen. The assessment, response and reaction time of these agencies is very critical when the disasters occur since it can determine the number of fatalities. The debate on fire disaster management should cover the issues of stakeholders’ collaboration in the event of a fire disasters. Currently it is not clear whether these collaborations have been fruitful.
From the foregoing, it is evident that all urban areas should have mechanisms to deal with fire disasters. This can only be achieved through a comprehensive fire disaster management system. According to Gunn (1992), disaster management is the aspect of preventing and minimizing the potential circumstances that lead to fire disasters through training of the communities on how to plan, predict and prepare for them. Further, the agencies and stakeholders involved in fire disaster management needs to be involved in the formulation of training, policy, education, legislation, and planning. This shall strengthen the aspects of fire disaster management through meaningful debate that can benefit from stakeholders’ experience.
This would reduce the effects of disasters to the environment as well as human. As indicated by Arturson (1987), disaster management should be done in reference to results of research studies previously carried out on the possible risks that can cause them. According to the the Nigerian government (2009), a systematic process of fire Disaster Risk Management has been adopted in the country. This approach puts in place systems that ensure the occurrences of fire disasters are reduced as much as possible while at the same time guide on how to control the impacts of these disasters to the minimum if/ when they occur. Consequently, trainings based on how to improve the community’s coping capacity, improve skills on execution of the developed strategies, guide on interpretation of policies and the need to follow the organizations operational frameworks are recommended. This study sort to find out what deficiencies exists within the stakeholders and fire disaster management agencies which affect their capacity to perform effectively, and whether they are aware of them and therefore doing anything about it.
1.1 Problem Statement
Nabutola (2004) observes that although Yobe State Fire Service has a responsibility to safety against fire within the county, Yobe State continues to experience devastating fire outbreaks both within the city Centre and its environs. For instance, Kigunda (2012) observes that despite Kimathi house being located less than 200 meters away from the Yobe State’s firefighting department, the fire brigades arrived at the scene 30 minutes after the fire had consumed two floors of the 10-storey building in the year 2012. Other institutions around Yobe State have not been spared either in subsequent years. Slums have also had a fair share of fires mainly coursed mainly by human errors. At the Sinai slums, on August 12, 2011, a fire occurred as a result of an accidental fuel leak leading to estimated 95 deaths, 112 severely burnt and loss. This is however only one of the fires that keep occurring in these areas. The markets have not been spared either. Gikomba open air market has had its share of fires, the notable ones accruing in quick succession in September 08, 2010, March 13, 2012, March 18, 2014, October 16, 2014, June 23, 2015, in October 6, 2017 just to mention a few. All these fires course mental and physical anguish not to mention serious economic losses to the traders
While it may be impossible to eliminate fire disasters in the urban areas such as Yobe State, it is prudent that response is prompt to avoid major effects of these disasters. However, as Kabubi (2010) observes, in reference to Yobe State City, when fire breaks out, time taken by the fire officers to get to site is unnecessarily too long, while at the same time they come without the necessary equipments and apparatus, carrying too little water and other firefighting agents to fight the fire. Kigunda (2012) also states that for many years, fire disaster management and mitigating units in the country has been blamed for being reluctant and slow in responding to disasters whenever they are called at the scene to help.
While there exists standalone institutional, legal and policy frameworks on disasters, Yobe State does not have a coordinated policy and legal framework specific to Fire Disaster Management. As a result, Fire Disaster Management is done on an ad hock bases when disaster strikes. There is therefore luck of a planned and systematic approach to fire disaster management. There is lack of coordination leading to overprovision of services in some
aspects while others are neglected. The available resources are therefore not optimally used resulting to poor or slow response by the agencies which respond to these fire disasters which eventually increases the risk to the victims (the Nigerian government, (2009). The community and general members of the public are not properly trained and sensitized on aspects of fire disaster management. This is evidenced by their observed behavior in events of fire disasters especially the tendency is to crowd around the disaster or potential disaster sites oblivious of the dangers that come with it.
The presence of concentrated population, settlements as well as other buildings, within the many slums located within the county presents problems for fire disaster risk reductions and humanitarian assistance. Moreover, lack of water from the few water fire hydrants in Yobe State and poor infrastructure results in a weak and ineffective fire disaster management. In addition, the trained fire fighters experience challenges in their effort to protecting lives and property in building through prevention of fire risks since in most cases the water supplies at fire hydrants is inadequate and unreliable. Fire disaster management is further compounded by heavy traffic congestions during firefighting. From the foregoing, it was necessary to investigate what structures have been put in place in terms of preparedness, prevention, response and recovery strategies through the existing legal, policy and institutional framework on fire disaster management in Yobe State. This study was therefore geared towards assessing the effectiveness of Management of Fire Disaster in Yobe State.
1.2 Research Questions
The following research questions guided the study.
- To what extent does policy framework influence Fire Disaster Management in Yobe State?
- To what extent does stakeholder’s relationship influence in the Management of Fire Disasters in Yobe State?
- How does the technological capacity influence Fire Disaster Management in Yobe State?
- How does the level of stakeholders’ awareness influence Fire Disaster Management in Yobe State?
1.3 General Objective of the Study
The General Objective of the study was to develop a profile of roles of various stakeholders in fire disaster management; determine the nature of stakeholder collaborations in the management of fire disasters; assess the individual and combined capacity of stakeholders and how it influences efficiency and effectiveness of fire disaster management; and suggest ways in which a strengthening of interventions against fire disasters can be achieved.
1.4 Specific Objectives of the Study
The research aimed at achieving the following specific objectives:
- To examine the contributions of policy framework on the Management of Fire Disasters in Yobe State.
- To assess the influence of stakeholder relationship involved in Management of Fire Disasters in Yobe State.
- To determine the efficiency of technological capacity in Fire Disaster Management in Yobe State
- To assess the level of stakeholders’ awareness and its influence on Fire Disaster Management in Yobe State.
1.5 Hypotheses of the Research
The study tested the following hypotheses based on the above objectives:
- H0: - There is no substantial connection between policy frameworks and fire disaster management in the Yobe State.
- H0: - There is no significant relationship between stakeholder’s relationship and fire disaster management in Yobe State.
- H0: - There isn’t a significant association between technological capacity and fire disaster management in Yobe State.
- H0: - There is no substantial relationship between level of awareness of stakeholders’ and fire disaster management in Yobe State.
1.6 Justification of the enquiry
Disasters are on the rise both at the global and local level. This has been blamed on improper and uncontrolled human actions on the environment. The loss of human life as well as
property as a result of disasters has increased substantially in the last three decades. Yobe Statens, as well as Yobe State residents, and indeed all other urban areas within the country are always at risk from mainly fire disasters. Over and above the effects on life and property, hazardous gasses such as carbon dioxide, are released which contribute to the greenhouse effect in the atmosphere. It also courses serious pollution to the surrounding environment with emissions harmful to human health. These fire related disasters have created concerns across the country, raising questions on how well the fire disaster management institutions within the urban areas are equipped on matters related to mitigation, preparedness, response and the recovery process if /when a fire disaster occur. This observation created the need to urgently investigate the processes currently being employed by various stakeholders in the industry with special reference to Yobe State, and evaluate the gaps that exits. The study area has had is fair share of tragic fire disasters over the years resulting to death and loss of property. Some of the recent fire disasters have greatly affected households especially when they occur in the relatively congested informal settlements. In order to reverse this trend, it is important to incorporate the discipline of fire Disaster management in all developmental programs. All stakeholders therefore need to be aware of the basic rules of fire disaster management by gaining knowledge on how to implement safety practices within and around the environments they live in. Based on the foregoing, the researcher felt that although it is impossible to completely prevent fire disasters, a deeper investigation on aspects of fire disaster management, could help alleviate their worst effects. Justification of the study therefore was based on the premise that safety of Yobe Statens is a basic right. This further justified the need to carry out this study with a view to establishing how fire disaster management agencies operating within the Yobe State were carrying out this business and the level of success/effectiveness achieved. This study is important since it brought out major gaps that exists in fire disaster management within the Yobe State city. Based on the observations made in the course of this investigation, the researcher used the outcomes to make various recommendations to the policy makers.
1.7 Scope of the Study
This research was mainly directed towards Policy framework, stakeholders’ relationship, stakeholder’s technological capacity, stakeholders’ awareness as well as the strategies that influence fire disaster management within the Yobe State. The role of stakeholders involved in this sector comprising of the government agencies such as County Government and relevant ministries and, private companies, was examined. This was done in view of the existing fire disaster management mechanisms, equipment, infrastructure, financial resources, personnel as well as the strategies.
This study therefore investigated the state of fire related disaster in urban areas in Yobe State and how they have been managed, relative to Yobe State. The study concentrated on the following aspects
- Policies, regulations, and strategies that influence fire disaster within the Yobe State.
- Role of government agencies such as County Governments, relevant ministries and, private companies that are involved in fire disaster management within the Yobe State.
- An assessment of the existing fire disaster management mechanisms, equipment, infrastructure, financial resources, and personnel at the disposal of the stakeholders involved in the management of fire disasters within the Yobe State.
- An assessment of the challenge and opportunities in management of fire disasters in urban areas with special attention on the Yobe State.
The study limited itself to the Yobe State which covers approximately 639 Square Kilometers in land area, and a population of approximately 3,138,369, people by 2009 (KNBS). This reflects a population density of roughly 4,510 people per square Kilometer.
1.8 Limitations and delimitations of the Study
Although this study was carefully planned, the researcher was still aware of its limitations and shortcomings. In data collection, questionnaires were used for this study, part of which included self-assessment by respondents. Nonetheless, due to the professional/ technical nature of the subject under investigation, the researcher expected that most of the responses on the self-assessment by the respondents would be reasonably fair and factual. On the other hand, the items in the questionnaires might have asked questions that elicited subjectivity and hence distorting facts of the study. To overcome limitation on subjectivity, the researcher zeroed in on the senior level of employees within the organizations responsible for fire disaster management namely the managers and section heads. That way, the researcher was assured of some high level of accuracy in the opinions as well as facts presented in the
questionnaires. Again, fire disasters have been widely experienced within the country. However, this study only addressed fire disaster that occur within the Yobe State which is a densely populated urban settlement and the findings may not reflect the overall position of the urban centres in other counties in Yobe State. However, this delimitation did not pose any risk to the external validity of the current study since no generalisation of the findings was made as concerning other counties in Yobe State. Furthermore, the fact that the entire population was Purposeful picked as the sample, the researcher eliminated the need to generalise the findings on the study area. These delimitations therefore did not have a negative effect on the overall findings of this study.
1.9 Operational Definition of Terms
While these terms may have several meanings, the definitions given herein are those relevant to the subject under investigation.
Capacity building: organizational development including enhancement of management structures, processes and procedures, within organizations. (Definitions & Translations) Disaster: is an abrupt, catastrophic event that extremely disrupts the functioning of a community causing human, material (financial or physical), and environmental losses that surpasses the victim’s ability to cope using their resources. (International Federations) Disaster Prevention: Those activities taken to prevent a natural phenomenon or potential hazard from having harmful effects on either people or economic assets (USAID)
Disaster risk reduction: Reducing disaster risks by way of adopting the concept and practice of systematic efforts to analyze and manage the factors that lead to disasters, including through reduced exposure to dangers, lessened vulnerability of people and property and improved preparedness for adverse events. (UNISDR).
Disaster management: The attempt to understand the driving mechanisms (spatial, temporal, and mechanical) of natural disasters, such as various types of mass movement. (ScienceDirect)
Fire: It is a very fast, oxidation process that is self-sustaining which is accompanied by the development of heat, light and numerous reaction products such as carbon dioxide and water, in different forces. (Intro 101 Chapter 4 Quiz)
Hazard: Any item, condition, or action that has the likelihood to cause harm, injury, or damage to property, humans, animals or the environment. (Safeopedia)
Fire hazard is a probable fire accident that could happen at a residential, commercial, social, workplace or general environmental surrounding such as a forest which could lead to a wide range of accidents leading to loss of life and property. (Petropedia)
Squatter Settlement: A low income settlement usually in an urban locality occupied by people who do not have tenure of land of their own, and therefore “squat” on unoccupied land either public or private. (Hari Srinivas 2015)
Infrastructure: The fundamental structures and amenities such as transportation, water and power supplies, that is required for a country or society to work or function effectively (Cambridge dictionary).
Mitigation: Measures taken to avert or lessen the risk to life, assets, public and economic activities, and natural resources from hazards.
Preparedness: is the state of being ready for something to happen, especially for war or a disaster. (Collins English Dictionary).
Risk: A likelihood or danger of damage, hurt, accountability, forfeiture, or any other undesirable incidence that is triggered by external or internal exposures, and that may be avoided through preventative action. (Business dictionary)
Slum is a human settlement section of a city where living surroundings are deplorable and where the houses are in bad condition (Collins English Dictionary).
Urban area: An area that is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. An urban area must have been designated by relevant Authorities as a city, town or conurbation. (Academia)
Urbanization: The aspect of people moving from the countryside to towns and or cities, enlargement of cities or expansion of urban areas. (Market Business News)
URBAN FIRE DISASTER, A CASE STUDY DAMATURU YOBE STATE
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URBAN FIRE DISASTER, A CASE STUDY DAMATURU YOBE STATE
ABSTRACT
In most urban areas including Yobe State City, fire disasters have been blamed on poor management regime that lacks requisite efficiency and effectiveness to prevent, mitigate, respond or recover from fire disasters if and when they occur. Against this background, this study set out to contribute to a solution through four general objectives in respect to Yobe State area: (i) develop a profile of roles of various stakeholders in fire disaster management;
CHAPTERONE
INTRODUCTION
1.0 Background
The recent decades have experienced a rise in natural disasters as a result of which social development as well as political and economic activities have been adversely affected (Munasinghe 2014). The impacts of these disasters are either tangible or intangible depending on their nature, and their effects may be direct or indirect. The direct impacts may include issues such as actual bodily harm which may course disabilities, forced relocations, interruption of social amenities, and loss of property and livelihoods, while the indirect impacts are related to general responsibility taken by individuals or the state in taking care of the victims of these disasters. According to the Nigerian government, (2009), any event that courses serious disruption in the way the society or community lives coursing serious human, economic, environmental and material loses can be classified as a disaster. This occurrence almost always leads devastating effects on health status, disruption of ordinary services such as water power, communication and serious effects on businesses/ livelihoods (GOK, 2009). To be classified as a disaster, this situation should be so serious that the affected communities cannot cope with it within its available economic capacity and therefore calls for external assistance EMA. (1998.) Assistance comes in form of rapid response; transfer to health facilities and / or morgues, and in most cases rehabilitation and reconstruction of affected services. From the foregoing, it therefore follows that anything that creates a situation that would lead to that or similar occurrence is a potential disaster risk.
Urbanization leads to increased house density; a situation that is experienced in both planned and unplanned settlements the world over. As a result of this, the fire brigades are unable to access into settlements, which aggravates fire disaster risks (Isabela Wilfred Mtani and Mbuya 2018). Recurrent fire catastrophes are also frequent in crowded central business districts (CBDs) and markets (Oladokun & Emmanuel 2014). Henk (2004) observes that with this general increase in disasters globally fire disasters take the lead. Masellis M., Ferrara M.M., Gunn S.W.A. (1999) states that the effects of tragedies brought about by fire have continued to change over the centuries, especially in the twentieth. Fire disasters that occurred between 1900 all the way to 1969 were mainly to lack of prevention and poor safety regulations not to mention the evacuation plans that lack coordination. This resulted to preventable fire accidents that occurred in theaters, schools, nightclubs and even hospitals coursing serious casualties in death and disfigurement, loss of property and environmental
destruction. This study focuses on the role of various stakeholders and agencies involved in fire disaster management to find out if these roles are well understood by these agencies and the citizen. The assessment, response and reaction time of these agencies is very critical when the disasters occur since it can determine the number of fatalities. The debate on fire disaster management should cover the issues of stakeholders’ collaboration in the event of a fire disasters. Currently it is not clear whether these collaborations have been fruitful.
From the foregoing, it is evident that all urban areas should have mechanisms to deal with fire disasters. This can only be achieved through a comprehensive fire disaster management system. According to Gunn (1992), disaster management is the aspect of preventing and minimizing the potential circumstances that lead to fire disasters through training of the communities on how to plan, predict and prepare for them. Further, the agencies and stakeholders involved in fire disaster management needs to be involved in the formulation of training, policy, education, legislation, and planning. This shall strengthen the aspects of fire disaster management through meaningful debate that can benefit from stakeholders’ experience.
This would reduce the effects of disasters to the environment as well as human. As indicated by Arturson (1987), disaster management should be done in reference to results of research studies previously carried out on the possible risks that can cause them. According to the the Nigerian government (2009), a systematic process of fire Disaster Risk Management has been adopted in the country. This approach puts in place systems that ensure the occurrences of fire disasters are reduced as much as possible while at the same time guide on how to control the impacts of these disasters to the minimum if/ when they occur. Consequently, trainings based on how to improve the community’s coping capacity, improve skills on execution of the developed strategies, guide on interpretation of policies and the need to follow the organizations operational frameworks are recommended. This study sort to find out what deficiencies exists within the stakeholders and fire disaster management agencies which affect their capacity to perform effectively, and whether they are aware of them and therefore doing anything about it.
1.1 Problem Statement
Nabutola (2004) observes that although Yobe State Fire Service has a responsibility to safety against fire within the county, Yobe State continues to experience devastating fire outbreaks both within the city Centre and its environs. For instance, Kigunda (2012) observes that despite Kimathi house being located less than 200 meters away from the Yobe State’s firefighting department, the fire brigades arrived at the scene 30 minutes after the fire had consumed two floors of the 10-storey building in the year 2012. Other institutions around Yobe State have not been spared either in subsequent years. Slums have also had a fair share of fires mainly coursed mainly by human errors. At the Sinai slums, on August 12, 2011, a fire occurred as a result of an accidental fuel leak leading to estimated 95 deaths, 112 severely burnt and loss. This is however only one of the fires that keep occurring in these areas. The markets have not been spared either. Gikomba open air market has had its share of fires, the notable ones accruing in quick succession in September 08, 2010, March 13, 2012, March 18, 2014, October 16, 2014, June 23, 2015, in October 6, 2017 just to mention a few. All these fires course mental and physical anguish not to mention serious economic losses to the traders
While it may be impossible to eliminate fire disasters in the urban areas such as Yobe State, it is prudent that response is prompt to avoid major effects of these disasters. However, as Kabubi (2010) observes, in reference to Yobe State City, when fire breaks out, time taken by the fire officers to get to site is unnecessarily too long, while at the same time they come without the necessary equipments and apparatus, carrying too little water and other firefighting agents to fight the fire. Kigunda (2012) also states that for many years, fire disaster management and mitigating units in the country has been blamed for being reluctant and slow in responding to disasters whenever they are called at the scene to help.
While there exists standalone institutional, legal and policy frameworks on disasters, Yobe State does not have a coordinated policy and legal framework specific to Fire Disaster Management. As a result, Fire Disaster Management is done on an ad hock bases when disaster strikes. There is therefore luck of a planned and systematic approach to fire disaster management. There is lack of coordination leading to overprovision of services in some
aspects while others are neglected. The available resources are therefore not optimally used resulting to poor or slow response by the agencies which respond to these fire disasters which eventually increases the risk to the victims (the Nigerian government, (2009). The community and general members of the public are not properly trained and sensitized on aspects of fire disaster management. This is evidenced by their observed behavior in events of fire disasters especially the tendency is to crowd around the disaster or potential disaster sites oblivious of the dangers that come with it.
The presence of concentrated population, settlements as well as other buildings, within the many slums located within the county presents problems for fire disaster risk reductions and humanitarian assistance. Moreover, lack of water from the few water fire hydrants in Yobe State and poor infrastructure results in a weak and ineffective fire disaster management. In addition, the trained fire fighters experience challenges in their effort to protecting lives and property in building through prevention of fire risks since in most cases the water supplies at fire hydrants is inadequate and unreliable. Fire disaster management is further compounded by heavy traffic congestions during firefighting. From the foregoing, it was necessary to investigate what structures have been put in place in terms of preparedness, prevention, response and recovery strategies through the existing legal, policy and institutional framework on fire disaster management in Yobe State. This study was therefore geared towards assessing the effectiveness of Management of Fire Disaster in Yobe State.
1.2 Research Questions
The following research questions guided the study.
1.3 General Objective of the Study
The General Objective of the study was to develop a profile of roles of various stakeholders in fire disaster management; determine the nature of stakeholder collaborations in the management of fire disasters; assess the individual and combined capacity of stakeholders and how it influences efficiency and effectiveness of fire disaster management; and suggest ways in which a strengthening of interventions against fire disasters can be achieved.
1.4 Specific Objectives of the Study
The research aimed at achieving the following specific objectives:
1.5 Hypotheses of the Research
The study tested the following hypotheses based on the above objectives:
1.6 Justification of the enquiry
Disasters are on the rise both at the global and local level. This has been blamed on improper and uncontrolled human actions on the environment. The loss of human life as well as
property as a result of disasters has increased substantially in the last three decades. Yobe Statens, as well as Yobe State residents, and indeed all other urban areas within the country are always at risk from mainly fire disasters. Over and above the effects on life and property, hazardous gasses such as carbon dioxide, are released which contribute to the greenhouse effect in the atmosphere. It also courses serious pollution to the surrounding environment with emissions harmful to human health. These fire related disasters have created concerns across the country, raising questions on how well the fire disaster management institutions within the urban areas are equipped on matters related to mitigation, preparedness, response and the recovery process if /when a fire disaster occur. This observation created the need to urgently investigate the processes currently being employed by various stakeholders in the industry with special reference to Yobe State, and evaluate the gaps that exits. The study area has had is fair share of tragic fire disasters over the years resulting to death and loss of property. Some of the recent fire disasters have greatly affected households especially when they occur in the relatively congested informal settlements. In order to reverse this trend, it is important to incorporate the discipline of fire Disaster management in all developmental programs. All stakeholders therefore need to be aware of the basic rules of fire disaster management by gaining knowledge on how to implement safety practices within and around the environments they live in. Based on the foregoing, the researcher felt that although it is impossible to completely prevent fire disasters, a deeper investigation on aspects of fire disaster management, could help alleviate their worst effects. Justification of the study therefore was based on the premise that safety of Yobe Statens is a basic right. This further justified the need to carry out this study with a view to establishing how fire disaster management agencies operating within the Yobe State were carrying out this business and the level of success/effectiveness achieved. This study is important since it brought out major gaps that exists in fire disaster management within the Yobe State city. Based on the observations made in the course of this investigation, the researcher used the outcomes to make various recommendations to the policy makers.
1.7 Scope of the Study
This research was mainly directed towards Policy framework, stakeholders’ relationship, stakeholder’s technological capacity, stakeholders’ awareness as well as the strategies that influence fire disaster management within the Yobe State. The role of stakeholders involved in this sector comprising of the government agencies such as County Government and relevant ministries and, private companies, was examined. This was done in view of the existing fire disaster management mechanisms, equipment, infrastructure, financial resources, personnel as well as the strategies.
This study therefore investigated the state of fire related disaster in urban areas in Yobe State and how they have been managed, relative to Yobe State. The study concentrated on the following aspects
The study limited itself to the Yobe State which covers approximately 639 Square Kilometers in land area, and a population of approximately 3,138,369, people by 2009 (KNBS). This reflects a population density of roughly 4,510 people per square Kilometer.
1.8 Limitations and delimitations of the Study
Although this study was carefully planned, the researcher was still aware of its limitations and shortcomings. In data collection, questionnaires were used for this study, part of which included self-assessment by respondents. Nonetheless, due to the professional/ technical nature of the subject under investigation, the researcher expected that most of the responses on the self-assessment by the respondents would be reasonably fair and factual. On the other hand, the items in the questionnaires might have asked questions that elicited subjectivity and hence distorting facts of the study. To overcome limitation on subjectivity, the researcher zeroed in on the senior level of employees within the organizations responsible for fire disaster management namely the managers and section heads. That way, the researcher was assured of some high level of accuracy in the opinions as well as facts presented in the
questionnaires. Again, fire disasters have been widely experienced within the country. However, this study only addressed fire disaster that occur within the Yobe State which is a densely populated urban settlement and the findings may not reflect the overall position of the urban centres in other counties in Yobe State. However, this delimitation did not pose any risk to the external validity of the current study since no generalisation of the findings was made as concerning other counties in Yobe State. Furthermore, the fact that the entire population was Purposeful picked as the sample, the researcher eliminated the need to generalise the findings on the study area. These delimitations therefore did not have a negative effect on the overall findings of this study.
1.9 Operational Definition of Terms
While these terms may have several meanings, the definitions given herein are those relevant to the subject under investigation.
Capacity building: organizational development including enhancement of management structures, processes and procedures, within organizations. (Definitions & Translations) Disaster: is an abrupt, catastrophic event that extremely disrupts the functioning of a community causing human, material (financial or physical), and environmental losses that surpasses the victim’s ability to cope using their resources. (International Federations) Disaster Prevention: Those activities taken to prevent a natural phenomenon or potential hazard from having harmful effects on either people or economic assets (USAID)
Disaster risk reduction: Reducing disaster risks by way of adopting the concept and practice of systematic efforts to analyze and manage the factors that lead to disasters, including through reduced exposure to dangers, lessened vulnerability of people and property and improved preparedness for adverse events. (UNISDR).
Disaster management: The attempt to understand the driving mechanisms (spatial, temporal, and mechanical) of natural disasters, such as various types of mass movement. (ScienceDirect)
Fire: It is a very fast, oxidation process that is self-sustaining which is accompanied by the development of heat, light and numerous reaction products such as carbon dioxide and water, in different forces. (Intro 101 Chapter 4 Quiz)
Hazard: Any item, condition, or action that has the likelihood to cause harm, injury, or damage to property, humans, animals or the environment. (Safeopedia)
Fire hazard is a probable fire accident that could happen at a residential, commercial, social, workplace or general environmental surrounding such as a forest which could lead to a wide range of accidents leading to loss of life and property. (Petropedia)
Squatter Settlement: A low income settlement usually in an urban locality occupied by people who do not have tenure of land of their own, and therefore “squat” on unoccupied land either public or private. (Hari Srinivas 2015)
Infrastructure: The fundamental structures and amenities such as transportation, water and power supplies, that is required for a country or society to work or function effectively (Cambridge dictionary).
Mitigation: Measures taken to avert or lessen the risk to life, assets, public and economic activities, and natural resources from hazards.
Preparedness: is the state of being ready for something to happen, especially for war or a disaster. (Collins English Dictionary).
Risk: A likelihood or danger of damage, hurt, accountability, forfeiture, or any other undesirable incidence that is triggered by external or internal exposures, and that may be avoided through preventative action. (Business dictionary)
Slum is a human settlement section of a city where living surroundings are deplorable and where the houses are in bad condition (Collins English Dictionary).
Urban area: An area that is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. An urban area must have been designated by relevant Authorities as a city, town or conurbation. (Academia)
Urbanization: The aspect of people moving from the countryside to towns and or cities, enlargement of cities or expansion of urban areas. (Market Business News)
URBAN FIRE DISASTER, A CASE STUDY DAMATURU YOBE STATE
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