The Fire Rescue Unit from the State of Minnesota in the United States led by Fire Chief, Mark Lynde, has set-up a one week training camp in Kisii County, to train personnel in the Disaster Management Department on fire management.
Speaking at a Kisii hotel, Lynde said he is accompanied by a team of officers with huge expertise who will help the county’s firefighting officers to gain skills and knowledge of fire outbreaks and rescue missions.
“The Fire Rescue Unit runs twenty-four stations and manages more than 400 fire fighters who work for it. That is the kind of talent we brought to teach fire personnel here,” he said.
Lynde added that his team brought a shipping container full of donations aimed at equipping the Fire Department as requested by the Kisii County Government.
Kisii Governor, Mr. James Ongwae, admitted that although the Fire Station at Kisii town is the largest after the Kisumu International Airport, one in the Western Region, his County does not have enough equipment and training.
“I called our colleagues at Nyamira County and asked them to send their personnel to benefit from this Disaster Management Training so that the broader issue of sharing resources on the economy of scale can take effect,” Governor Ongwae added.
The State of Minnesota and Kisii County Government have been having partnership in disaster management training for the last nine years.
In 2013, Minnesota State’s Fire Chief and Commander, Kenneth Prillaman, led a team of firefighting professionals to train Kisii disaster management personnel, to handle modern equipment and learn safety techniques.
By Erastus Michieka and Clinton Nyamumbo
