APPRAISAL OF FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENTS IN STATE FIRE SERVICES

 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

 Background Of The Study

Over the years, occurrence of fire emergencies remains one of major threats to lives and properties in various parts of Nigeria. According to the World Bank’s Statistical Capacity Indicator, Nigeria recorded a 67.8 percent in terms of statistical capacity (World Bank, 2016). This score is higher than the sub-Saharan Africa average and other international development association (IDA) eligible countries. Despite the relatively high statistical capacity, data collection and processing in Nigeria over the past decades (post-independence in the 1960) has experienced enormous challenges in terms of its use in achieving developmental objectives. Nigeria is prone to different types of hazards, both natural and man-made. Natural hazards that are prevalent in Adamawa State include, but are not limited to, flooding and droughts (Etuonovbe 2011; Ibem 2011, Oladipo2013 ;). As observed by Babatunde (2014), flooding is therefore a perennial problem particularly in Yola North that consistently causes deaths and displacement of communities.

For example, in 2010, about 1,555 people were killed and 258,000 more were displaced by flooding. While man-made hazards peculiar to Yola North, but are not limited to, terrorism, pipeline explosions, road and air transportation accidents, internal crises, and structural fires (Ibem, 2011, Ogundiya and Amzat 2018). Fire emergency management in Adamawa State, is in its infancy. Although organized responses to disasters date back to the early 1900s when the Fire Brigade was in charge of putting out fires, protecting properties, and helping communities respond to disasters, a comprehensive approach to emergency management only began in 1999. However, since then, Nigeria’s emergency management system has undergone tremendous changes. The search for a public disaster management system was necessitated by the need to safeguard Nigeria from the devastating impacts of fire disaster. This search predated Nigeria’s Independence. Over the years, two patterns or traditions of emergency management have obtained in Nigeria. These have been represented as the “vulture concept” and the “eagle concept” (Ndace, 2018). The vulture concept is reactive in essence while the eagle concept is pro-active. The former is likened to what is often referred to as “command-and-control” approach, while the letter could be referred to as “fire-brigade” approach (Tietenberg, 2016, Ndace, 2018). There are many challenges facing Adamawa State, Yola North Fire Service, including limited to, inadequate funding, differences in emergency management structures at the state level, inadequate disaster education, lack of collaboration among different levels of government, and corruption. 

Emergency are not limited to natural hazards but also human-induced hazards. These include interstate wars, civil wars, insurgencies, communal disputes, and so on. In the 20th Century, the world experienced ‘total wars’ in World War 1 and II. The import of national emergency whether natural disasters or man-made as in wars, are the human suffering that an emergency can cause. At the end of the day, the management of national emergency becomes concerned not just with rebuilding infrastructure damaged, but also with containment of human suffering as a result of these situations. People who are rendered homeless due to those disasters or are pushed out of their homelands as a result of fire disaster. 

1.2 Statement of The Problems

Emergency whether man-made or natural disasters are a recurring decimal in many parts of the world. Nigeria is not an exception. In the developed world, there are lack of proper planning and response when fire outbreak happen. State fire service resources are brought to bear on and to ameliorate the negative consequences of fire disasters. Adamawa State Fire Service in Yola North have difficulties is response to fire outbreak across the state metropolis which is as result of lack of proper fire fighting equipment, poorly kept records and data, absence of political will and rampant political corruption. They suffer hardships ranging from; motor failure, lack of man-power, out of modern equipments like personal projective equipments (PPE), lack of response to fire outbreak in a timely manner etc. 

1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study

The main aim of this study is the appraisal of fire fighting equipments of fire service station in Yola North.

The specific objectives include:

To identify the various fire fighting equipments in Yola North Fire Station

To identify the fire fighting equipments that are functional in Yola North Fire Station.

To identify how often and regular usage of those fire equipments in the study area.

1.4 Research Questions

What are the types of fire fighting equipment in Yola North Fire Station?

How functional are these fire fighting equipment are in Yola North Fire Station?

How often are these equipment are put in to use in the Fire Station?

1.5 Scope and Limitation of Study

The scope of this study is limited to the fire station in Yola North. And the study is also limited to the appraisal of fire fighting equipments of fire service station in Yola North Local Government, Adamawa State.

In the cause of carrying out this research work, the following limitations were encountered: there was lack of sufficient funds: financial constraint impeded the ability of the researcher to gather data for the conduct of the research. 

1.6 Significance of the Study

The study will be beneficial to the Adamawa State Government in the formulation of effective policies in furtherance of an enhanced emergency preparedness and disaster management in the  fire station. It will specifically benefit to the Adamawa State Fire Service Station in Yola North. The Nigerian Armed Forces, NP, FERMA, FRSC, NFS and Fire service will also benefit from the research in their respective roles in disaster management in Adamawa State. It will also serve the general public and add to the existing body of knowledge as well as a future reference material for further research on the topic.