The big blunder that led to several deaths during the Hillside Endarasha Academy Fire

Godfrey Gwako

3 months ago

The big blunder that led to several deaths during the Hillside Endarasha Academy Fire: Preliminary investigations into the tragic fire that killed 18 students at Hillside Endarasha Academy have revealed several errors that contributed to the fatal incident.

A spot check showed that the dormitory where the pupils were housed was constructed using timber. It is common sense that timber easily catches fire and can rapidly turn a small blaze into an uncontrollable inferno. This dormitory was home to 156 boys.

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18 pupils died in the inferno

The fire resulted in the deaths of 18 students, with 14 others suffering serious injuries while others had minor injuries. The injured were rushed to Othaya Hospital for specialized medical care.

Compounding the tragedy, firefighters who responded to the scene faced a severe shortage of water, which hampered their rescue efforts. They were forced to travel 16 kilometers away to find a water source, significantly delaying their response time.

Poor fire preparedness in schools

The incident also brings to light a concerning report released by the Auditor General in 2020 regarding fire preparedness in schools across Kenya.

This audit highlighted a lack of readiness for fires, with many schools failing to meet basic safety standards.

Auditor General Nancy Gathungu pointed out that several schools have doors that open inwards. This could cause students to trap themselves inside while trying to escape during a fire.

The report also noted that some schools have windows with metal grills, a violation of safety regulations, making it harder for students to exit quickly in an emergency.

Poor adherence to safety measures

The investigation further uncovered that some dormitories lack doors at each end or clearly marked emergency exits in the middle.

Many doorways are narrower than the recommended five feet, making a quick evacuation difficult.

Moreover, the audit found that schools have not acquired the necessary firefighting equipment. This is because of the absence of committees responsible for identifying and communicating such needs to school management.

The tragedy at Hillside Endarasha Academy underscores the urgent need for stricter safety measures and improved preparedness to prevent similar incidents in the future.

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