Public Awareness of Fire Safety Provisions in Commercial Malls and its Influence on Preparedness

Description

This paper examines the influence of customers’ fire safety knowledge on fire preparedness in a major commercial mall in Nairobi, Kenya. Using a descriptive cross-sectional design, data were collected from 187 respondents through questionnaires and drill performance records. Descriptive findings revealed that 67.8% of customers lacked knowledge of appropriate fire responses, 88% had never encountered a safety officer, and 95.4% had never participated in a fire safety drill. Chi-square analyses further established a significant association between customers’ knowledge indicators and their preparedness, particularly their ability to identify fire exits, report alarms, and assist in containment (p < .05). Customers who had experienced fire drills demonstrated markedly higher preparedness than those without such experience. The study concludes that limited public awareness and lack of drills severely constrain fire readiness in malls. Embedding customer education and routine drills into mall safety management is therefore critical for reducing risks and enhancing resilience.