Nepal: Basic fire fighting service training in Kathmandu
Nepal is prone to different types of disasters with fire being one of the most recurring. Every year, particularly in the dry season, a large number of incidents of fire are reported, mainly in Tarai, where about three-quarters of houses are built with thatched roofs vulnerable to fire. Although the number of deaths is lower than other disasters, the average loss of property is high. Due to haphazard urbanization and industrialization, urban areas are also becoming more vulnerable to fire. Poor fire services, few and old fire engines, insufficient skilled human resources combined with narrow lanes and clustered households is increasing vulnerability to fires.
The Nepal Risk Reduction Consortium (NRRC) was officially launched in 2011 with five flagship priorities. Flagship 2 of NRRC is focused on Emergency Preparedness and Response and is coordinated by Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) and UNOCHA. A priority for Flagship 2 is the strengthening of fire services in Nepal.
In support of efforts to improve fire services, the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development (MoFALD) with support from Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management Programme (CDRMP)/ UNDP is conducting a four-week “Basic Fire Fighting Services Training” from 30 October to 30 November 2012. The program is being held in the National Police Training Academy, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu. The main objective of the training is to train fire-fighters on basic skills, knowledge and understanding to ensure their safety and the safety of others during a fire response.
Fire services often work with the three basic principles which could be utilized to form the basis of a National strategy:
1. Prevention: educating the public to reduce the risk of fire and other emergencies and the corresponding injuries and fatalities that can occur;
2. Protection: fire safety regulations and enforcement to ensure commercial and public buildings are managed and maintained for safe use to reduce fire risks and hazards;
3. Response: where prevention and protection have failed fire crews should have an effective capability to respond and safely deal with incidents to save lives and protect property.
In Nepal, Fire services are more Response oriented. However, Nepal urgently requires further work to ensure that prevention and protection are part of a future national strategy and to build and fund a sustainable Fire and Rescue Service backed with Legislation and Regulations.
Ideally, completion of this first phase training program will help to form the base for further work to increase legislative and regulatory systems and awareness campaigns.
A total of 29 Fire-fighters; 3 from Nepal Army, 6 from Nepal Police, 3 from Armed Police Forces and 10 from Kathmandu Metropolitan City Fire Brigade, 3 from Lalitpur Sub- Metropolitan City Fire Brigade, 2 from Bhaktapur Fire Brigade. Four well experienced instructors from the UK’s Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Services are volunteering to train the Nepalese firefighters whereas two veterans from Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal and head of KMC Fire Brigade are supporting the instructors to conduct the training. This training will also help to build on an existing pilot cooperation between UK and Kathmandu Metropolitan City.
The training will cover the following areas:
• Appliances
• Personal Protective equipment
• Equipment
• Fire behavior and breathing apparatus
• Basic first Aid
After the completion of this training, these graduates will then be mentored to become trainers in future three to five week basic training courses. This will also be able to develop an appropriate Continuous Professional Development (CPD) training course as required to support fire services professionals to maintain and improve the acquired skills.
The trainers will also be responsible for reviewing existing equipment available in the target fire stations and training facilities, and for identifying what gaps and priorities for providing essential equipment.