Socio-economic effects of market fires outbreaks: An evidence of Mbeya City, Tanzania

Fires are considered a potential threat to sustainable development of markets. However, little information is available on the sources and socio economic effects of market fires. This study therefore, investigated the sources of market fires, socio economic effects and risk mitigation taken by micro entities to protect business loses in Mbeya City market segments. This study used a quasi-experimental research design in which chain referral sampling plan was employed. Semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect cross sectional data of which 55 micro business participants were interviewed. Descriptive statistics information was obtained by using SPSS package. Survey results showed that 83.6%, 81.8% and 89.1% of interviewed respondents had formal businesses, self employed and retailers, respectively and those were affected by fire (100%). Furthermore, it was found that 90.9% of businesses were not insured after fire outbreak. Moreover, 72.7% of interviewed participants’ families’ livelihood were affected because they were depending on businesses they operated. It is therefore, concluded that most of participants interviewed in small businesses were self employed, not risk averse and they lost families’ livelihoods. t is therefore, recommended that the government should support small business to enhance self employment and should provide education on insurance.