Growing Community Fire Prevention Programs

Growing Community Fire Prevention Programs - AFM’s first annual Fire Prevention Competition!

January 1, 2023

by: Nancy L. Moore, Executive Director

When my husband, Dave, and I arrived in Nairobi, Kenya in 2012 we immediately began to see the dangers of fires that are a reality of life in Africa. When we learned in 2014 that many firefighters in Zambia didn’t know the basics of fire prevention and fire safety we knew we had to do something.

From our partners at Missions of Hope International and CMF International we learned about Community Health Evangelism or Community Health Education and realized that there was very little education for developing communities on fire prevention and fire safety. So we worked together with firefighters in Africa, community members in Kenya and AFM’s American firefighter volunteers to develop a curriculum that would be culturally appropriate for developing communities.

We have trained thousands of firefighters and community volunteers in using our curriculum and have been able to track results as fire services in Africa report that communities that have received training call the fire brigade sooner in cases of fire outbreaks and that they have a better understanding of how the fire service works and what firefighters need from the community in order to do their job. In 2022, firefighters and community volunteers reported more than 520,000 people were educated in fire prevention and fire safety through training activities, community walks and fire prevention week activities. Through public television and radio more than 13 million people were received life saving fire safety education.

With more than 1 billion people in Sub-Saharan Africa - there are many more people to reach with these important life safety lessons.

In 2023 AFM has launched an initiative to reach more people by encouraging training and reporting that training through our first annual Fire Prevention Competition. We will have 4 categories for participation:

• Individual Volunteer - someone who is not paid for trainings that they are providing.

• Individual Paid - someone doing this as a part of their job, in the fire service, private or public sector.

• Fire Brigade (paid firefighters this could be a recognition for the whole fire department what they submit across all shifts, etc).

• Groups- organization or informal group (this could be firefighters or community members that are not getting paid to do the trainings and are doing it on their own time)

Trainings reported and taking place from November 20, 2022- November 1, 2023 will be considered. For the competition, trainings must take place in Africa. Participants in the competition may use the Africa Fire Mission curriculum as a guide for what training content to include: https://www.africafiremission.org/fire-safety-curriculum

The requirements to be considered include:

1. Submit training documentation to Africa Fire Mission via this form: https://www.africafiremission.org/fire-safety-training-reporting

2. Submit pictures of the training to info@africafiremission.org

Submission reviews to determine winners of the competition:

• Africa Fire Mission will review the all of the submitted training reports for quality of training as well as number of persons trained.

• Training photos will also be reviewed and AFM should be able to tell what content is being taught through the photos evidence.

• Trainings may be done formally (for instance a classroom setting or community gathering) or informally community walk, media interviews)

Winners will be announced at the closing of the Kenya Fire EMS Symposium and Competition 2023, in Nairobi, Kenya, November 2023. Winners will also receive recognition on AFM social media and AFM’s monthly newsletter. A certificate will be issued to the winners as well as a gift (yet to be determined).

Please note: Individuals training together are considered a group, please have one person from the group submit the reports and list the name of the group with the training report. Duplicate trainings will be combined as one training report. If there are participants from multiple countries, awards may be issued by country. AFM staff will not be considered as part of the competition. AFM holds the full decision making over the winners of the competition.

Fire Prevention Activities Grow in Kenya

When Dave and Nancy , Co-Founders of Africa Fire Mission, went to Kenya in November 2012. One of the things that surprised them was the lack of knowledge around fire prevention and fire safety. In the US, children start to learn about fire safety in Pre-School and fire prevention messages and what to do in case of fire are integrated into school and work for many Americans. In most of Africa we have learned that there is very little education around fire prevention or fire safety.

As soon as Dave saw the gap he invited the Nairobi Fire Service to come to Missions of Hope International (AFM’s first partner) to teach the teachers a little about fire prevention. Stop, Drop and Roll, Crawling Under Smoke (Get Low and Get Out), how to call the fire department and how to use a fire extinguisher were among the first lessons taught. That first fire prevention session in Nairobi had about 30 participants - since then AFM has been growing our fire prevention program through curriculum and a train the trainer model through CHE (Community Health Education).

This October, Kenya participated in Fire Prevention week - at least 10 counties participated and more than 40,000 individuals received direct training in fire prevention! Children and adults conducted fire drills in their schools and businesses. Firefighters went into their communities and shared safety messages in churches, schools, businesses and anywhere that people gathered!

Indirectly, the impact was pretty great too! There were walks to raise awareness and media campaigns to share the work! Millions were impacted indirectly through these collaborations!

At Africa Fire Mission we are committed to continue to increase the impact of fire prevention and safety to save lives! It is important to our mission just as training firefighters. Our curriculum is available for free on our website - check it out here: Fire Safety Curriculum and we’d love for those using our curriculum to report their training experiences here: Report

To all the firefighters in Kenya that are spreading the message of fire safety - Asante Sana (thank you!) We can’t want to see the multiplication continue in Kenya and across all of Africa!

Volunteer Highlight - Cyrus Kalemunguruk

By José Ngunjiri, AFM Fire Safety Advocate, Nairobi, Kenya

The late Elbert Hubbard used to say: “if you want anything done, asks a busy man to do it.” Cyrus Kalemunguruk is that man. Selfless, dedicated and loves to serve God’s people. Cyrus is among the instructors who took me under their wing when I was in fire training school and trained me to be a firefighter. 

In December 2020, Cyrus agreed to volunteer his time to support Africa Fire Mission as we worked to advance firefighter trainings on how to conduct basic community fire prevention sessions. (crawling under smoke, stop drop and roll, calling the fire brigade amongst other lessons) Check out AFM’s fire prevention curriculum  

Cyrus was a true teammate.   He provided instruction in a professional manner and his contribution will be contributing to the fire service in Africa for years to come. 

During the training, a fire call came in and we were asked to join the firefighters who were on duty. It had been a long time since I rode in a fire truck. Cyrus sprung up and become the mentor I relied on in school. He reminded me to buckle up, to check the breathing apparatus and also to follow his instructions as soon as we reached the fire scene. It was a tough call. However, the calmness of Cyrus Kalemunguruk made me work with ease. 

Working with volunteer Cyrus is always an awesome experience. Thank you Cyrus for volunteering!

AFM continues to grow dedicated volunteers to serve!!! If you are interested in volunteering in your community, contact your local fire brigade.

Kenyan First Responders join hands with communities to educate about menstrual hygiene.

Persisting taboos and stigma around matters concerning menstrual hygiene are prone in girls across the world. Girls are forced to stay at home for the days they are experiencing their flows because they are either not provided the sanitary towels or their parents cannot afford the basic items to continue normally with their daily chores. During the time they are going through their monthly flow, they are either locked in their rooms without any know how on how they should deal when nature calls, or told to stay in the house with no movement outside.

A group of older girls in Kenya East of Nairobi called “Marafiki Drive”, who have a heart of the girl child, and know girls who undergo such challenges, approached first responders, to come participate in distributing hygiene products to the girls. This was in line in celebration of the World Menstrual Hygiene day held every year on the 28th May 2020. On analyzing the opportunity, I thought this was a great opening for firefighters to reach out to the girls with knowledge of extinguishing fire, evacuating the house and calling the fire brigade for help when an emergency situation presents itself. This move was necessary considering the girls are usually home alone. During this time, the girl is in pain and may forget to turn off a stove or to put out a candle while they take a nap.

Firefighters and Emergency Medical Technicians from around Kenya rallied together to give in cash or kind donations to make a difference in girl child’s life. We managed to raise more than 10,000 Kenya Shillings ($100USD) and AFM and Missions of Hope International printed 200 flyers with emergency numbers with instructions on how to put out different types of fires inside the homes. Through that reach out program, we got to connect with 314 girls  and distributed three packs of Sanitary towels to each girl containing twenty four pads that will last them for two months if they are having a normal flow. 

As first responders, we are very grateful to have participated in the event and are looking forward to the next event in order to partner with communities and increase their quality of life and connection with the fire service.

Firefighter community outreach - International Firefighters Day 2020

Firefighters in many parts of Africa are disrespected by their communities. Community members don’t understand them and will often throw stones at the firefighters when they arrive on fire and rescue scenes. Firefighters are frequently injured and equipment severely damaged. Yet firefighters continue to respond to serve their communities. In Kenya, firefighters have been working hard to educate their communities about how to prevent fires and how to respond to fires (things like knowing to call the fire brigade and knowing the number to call).

In the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic a group of career and volunteer firefighters decided to celebrate International Firefighters Day (May 4th) by reaching out to a slum community - their goal was to build relationships between the firefighters and the community.

On May 9, 2020, a group of 18 firefighters and 12 community volunteers (from Jiamini Self Help group) collaborated with the Kiambu Fire Brigade in Thika to fumigate the Kiandutu slums with COVID eradication solution and spray bedbug eradication solution in homes. The firefighters and volunteers reached 15,000 people and were able to share life saving fire safety information!

This event was fully supported by the firefighters - the firefighters contributed their own time, talents and finances to the event. As others saw their commitment, the Kiambu County Government and other people and organizations got involved too. Firefighters across Kenya those employed and volunteering, contributed money to purchase bedbug killer. The Kiambu Public Health department provided COVID-19 fumigation solution that cleans the streets and the Kiambu Public Works who offered mist generator, fire truck and a utility pickup to transport the tools of trade to the activity area. Missions of Hope International provided supplies for the event as well.

This activity may be the first of many in this area as the community is excited to learn more about the fire service after these acts of kindness. It is a great example of community driven development and how AFM’s CHE model can be put into action by the fire service. Much can be done with little to improve the fire service in Africa and the communities around them. What can you do to improve your own community?

Laying down your Life for your Friends – Remembering Firefighter Obego

Laying down your Life for your Friends – Remembering Firefighter Obego, Nairobi Fire Service

By José – AFM Fire Safety Advocate, Kenya

“Help me to honor firefighter Obego fire engine operator of Nairobi fire who passed on 17th February 2020 at Nairobi West Hospital after a short illness. His selfless service to Nairobians and humanity at large will never be forgotten.”

Obego, as he was fondly called by his peers in the fire house, was a highly skilled gentleman with 30 years in the fire service. He was an operator (driver) and pump operator.  He was also a certified mechanic who would fix the fire engine when it broke down and needed repairs on it. Cadet Officer Obego was a selfless man. I remember him for a cheerful gentleman who would lift up one’s spirit whenever you went visiting the firehouse. As soon as you asked him of a certain fire that happened long time ago, he narrated the story and you would fill thrill run through your spine as if you were in the scene on that day. Operator Obego attended the August 7, 2007 bomb blast at the United States Embassy. He also attended the Hazmat fire at KEMSA medical storage facility at the industrial area where about five firefighters were rushed to the Nairobi West Hospital because of inhaling Ethanol from the stored medicine. Obego was at the Sinai oil spill fire at the Kwa Ruben slums that killed 95 people.  He was on hand for many national tragedies in Kenya during his 30year tenure.

Obego succumbed to lung cancer from his many years of fire service. My big brother Obego, thank you for your service. We’ll take it from here. Rest in Peace.  

When I learned of the news of Obego’s death, I met with Chief Fire Officer, Brain Kisali and Deputy Fire Chief Mboya to know what burial arrangements they have for our hero. During the meeting I gave my heartfelt condolences and asked to be given permission to raise money to support the funeral expenses that the family would undergo. Funerals in Africa can be extremely expensive and Obego had three wives and thirteen children. 

We rallied firefighters and first responders who were in the group to contribute 300 Kenya Shillings ($3) each to support the expenses. These were volunteer and career firefighters from various stations across the nation. Within a span of one week, we managed to rise up to 20,200Kenya Shillings ($202) which I got the privilege of handing over to Obego’s wives and brother in front of a guard of honor from International College Of Technology in Thika Fire Students. I was impressed by the overwhelming brotherhood that was bestowed to a firefighter who most of the firefighters had not met. The virtue of the firefighters learning that one of them was down, everyone was hands on deck to support overwhelmed me with courage. 

This was the first time the Kenyan fire service has come together to honor a fallen comrade.   I am honored to be a part of what I hope will be a new tradition in the fire service.  Honoring the firefighters that serve their communities. 

"Nothing About Us Without Us"

As I walked by the road side to Missions Of Hope International (MOHI), Pangani Center to my interview for the job advertised for the Fire Safety Advocacy position, I saw a big mural of a child and words written against the photo “Nothing about us without us”. That statement got me thinking which practical way will I get to work hand in hand with the Mathare community to include them? In my mind I had already been integrated into the MOHI mission statement that says “we educate, empower, restore and redeem vulnerable children, their families and communities through Christ”, even before I was confirmed for the job of Fire Safety Advocate for Africa Fire Mission, in collaboration with MOHI.

 After one month of three interview sessions, I was granted the job and shown my desk. We worked hand in hand with my supervisor who guided me through the process of penetrating into the community by including the residents in the process. Mathare slums are a community who are divided into different areas for government administration purposes that includes Polio disbursements, food distribution in times of crisis among other administration maters. My supervisor advised me to start from the Sub-county administration office and brief them what I intend to do and how it will impact positively to the Mathare community. It was one tedious and laborious uphill task that I got to encounter. From being requested to write letters to the City Hall administrator to aborted meetings that I felt wasted of my time and energy. This was short lived because as soon as I was still trying to figure out how I will be granted permission to operate with fire safety matters.  Then fire broke out inside of Mathare Bondeni area. The top most five story floor that housed fifty households caught fire. (One day before the fire, I had an opportunity to speak with the MOHI Bondeni center parents. I had shared with them the fire brigade number and also instructed them on what to say when they got the dispatcher.) I quickly put my protective attire and called the fire brigade only to be informed that someone had already activated the call from the community I had just trained a few days earlier. The Fire brigade got on the scene within a very short while and the fire was quickly extinguished. They were praised by the community for the first time in a very long time. This was the beginning of more beautiful things yet to come because out of this situation, I got to present the Bondeni Fire incident report to the sub-county administrator boss and I was automatically granted the “license” to operate inside Mathare community on condition that from time to time I will be reporting to him the findings and progress I am making towards my quest of reducing fire incidences in Mathare.

Africa Fire Mission invested more skills into my trade and taught me skills that helped me work with the community. I was put in class and studied CHE1 (Community Health Education 1) and CHE2 (Community Health Education 2). These were lessons that put into practice the slogan “Nothing about us without us”. I quickly got to identify the community champions in each area of Mathare and mapped them to get them trained in future. In our interaction, I came to know that the community champions’ children benefited directly in the MOHI programme. The community champions were also very happy to have me on board because they are affected directly with this fires and getting back to living a normal life is an uphill task.  I however worked with them by showing them the basics of putting out live fire. Before any engagement on the ground, I would call them for a morning brief and informed them of my intentions of getting to the ground and training the people in the community free of charge. In return they promised protection of my daily tools of trade that included my full PPE that I told them it assists me to put out real fires when the fire brigade shows up. Six months down the line, we have managed to work hand in hand with the community champions and we have put more than eight fires in which has seen up to four hundred homes get displaced. 

The road to victory is still far stretched.  I am seven months old in this mission. We are still working together with the sub-county office under new office bearers and we have blended well. The community champions are happy with the work we are doing and the fire brigades are feeling much safer when I am on the ground as they know that stones will not be thrown at them and that their tools are safe as they work in the fire scene. We are hopeful that one day,  fires will be history in Mathare, and all of Kenya and Fire brigades will stop having riot cages on their windows to avoid being thrown stones by the community for showing up late in the fire scene. For sure: Nothing for (about) them without the people of Mathare!

-       José, Fire Safety Advocate, Africa Fire Mission