Assessment of Fire Safety Preparedness of Merchants in the Principal Market Places of Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State

Abstract

Fire disasters in major markets present serious socio-economic, human, and infrastructural challenges, particularly in rapidly growing urban centres. This study assessed fire disaster management practices in five major markets in Port Harcourt Metropolis, focusing on the causes, effects, preparedness, emergency response, and recovery measures. A survey research design was adopted, and data were collected from 398 respondents using structured questionnaires, supported by secondary sources. Descriptive statistics and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were used for data analysis and hypothesis testing. The findings revealed that the major causes of market fires include inadequate fire safety equipment (WM = 4.26), careless handling of naked flames (WM = 4.23), poor electrical wiring (WM = 4.22), weak enforcement of safety regulations (WM = 4.20), and poor market planning (WM = 4.18). The effects were severe, including loss of livelihoods (WM = 4.51), destruction of goods and property (WM = 4.50), increased unemployment (WM = 4.45), and rising prices of goods (WM = 4.43). The study also found a low level of fire disaster preparedness, with all preparedness indicators recording weighted mean values below 2.32. ANOVA showed no significant variation in preparedness across the selected markets (p > 0.05). Furthermore, emergency response and post-fire recovery facilities were inadequate, with weighted mean values ranging from 2.08 to 2.20. The study concluded that inadequate infrastructure, weak enforcement of safety regulations, and poor preparedness increase the vulnerability of markets to fire disasters.