The fire challenge in Kinshasa: lack of equipment and organization
The city of Kinshasa is facing a series of serious disasters, with fires regularly destroying buildings and property. This situation highlights the shortcomings of the city’s fire-fighting system, which is ill-equipped and poorly organized to deal with such emergencies.
Kinshasa’s fire services are facing many problems. First, they lack adequate equipment such as fire vehicles, protective suits and boots, fire hydrants, metal ladders and ropes. This shortage of equipment limits their ability to respond quickly and effectively to the scene of disasters.
In addition to the lack of equipment, Kinshasa’s fire services also face motivation problems. Firefighters often experience late payment of their salaries, which affects their morale and commitment to their work.
The Kinshasa fire brigade is supposed to intervene in the event of a fire, but in reality, its personnel often find themselves disarmed in the face of disasters. Firefighters’ tank trucks often quickly run out of water, due to their low capacity, and many fire hydrants are faulty or disconnected from the water supply network.
This precarious situation has disastrous consequences for the inhabitants of Kinshasa. In the event of a fire, they are often on their own, having no choice but to try to salvage what can be saved using sand or buckets of water, and wait for the fire goes out by itself. Firefighters, meanwhile, often find themselves helpless, having exhausted the contents of their tank trucks.
It is clear that there is an urgent need to reinforce Kinshasa’s fire protection system. This requires the acquisition of appropriate equipment, such as fire-fighting vehicles and protective equipment. It is also important to properly motivate and compensate firefighters, in order to maintain their commitment and effectiveness.
Furthermore, there is a need to improve the network of fire hydrants throughout the city, ensuring that they are well maintained and functional. Finally, it is essential to put in place a comprehensive fire prevention policy, by raising residents’ awareness of safety measures and by strengthening town planning standards to ensure the presence of fire hydrants and extinguishers in buildings.
It is time to act to protect the people of Kinshasa from the ravages of the fires. Investing in the equipment and organization of fire services is essential to ensure the safety and well-being of all city residents