Fire destroys over 6,500 acres of Mt Kenya forest
By Judy Jerono
Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has confirmed that a raging fire has destroyed more than 6,500 acres of moorland in the Marania section of Mt Kenya forest.
John Njoroge who is the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) Meru Ecosystem Conservator, said the fire spread fast and could not be controlled due to hot weather and strong winds.
Even as the firefighters from KFS, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Kenya Defense Forces (KDF), Mt Kenya Trust, Rhino Ark and the community, trying their best to see the fire is put off, it still spreads noting that the difficult terrain was also making it harder for the firefighters to contain the inferno.
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File image of firefighters putting out fire at the Mt Kenya Forest. |Courtesy| BBC|[/caption]
“We suspect the fire was started by arsonists or honey harvesters. The fire has been unmanageable due to the strong winds. Currently, the fire line is about 15 kilometres long. Two choppers were helping in efforts to put out the fire,” Mr Njoroge said,
According to Mt Kenya Trust CEO Susie Weeks, the fires are only reported after being put out.
“The situation is out of control. The firefighters are overwhelmed because we have been handling fires in Mt Kenya and Aberdare in the past 10 days. The dry moorland was part of the reason the fire spread fast and further. It is an emergency.,” said Ms Weeks.
She said some criminals are most likely the ones purposely lighting the fires in the moorland adding that more than 400 firefighters have been deployed to put off the blaze.
Mount Kenya is the second tallest mountain in Africa. It’s a world heritage site and contains an incredible wilderness made up of lakes, glaciers, dense forest, mineral springs and rare animals.
The majority of fires on Mount Kenya are caused by people clearing land with fire for domestic animal grazing, to gather honey, for cannabis cultivation and charcoal burning. Also when preparing for planting season or after harvest causing the fire to spread into natural vegetation on Mount Kenya.
File image of firefighters putting out fire at the Mt Kenya Forest. |Courtesy| BBC|[/caption]
“We suspect the fire was started by arsonists or honey harvesters. The fire has been unmanageable due to the strong winds. Currently, the fire line is about 15 kilometres long. Two choppers were helping in efforts to put out the fire,” Mr Njoroge said,
According to Mt Kenya Trust CEO Susie Weeks, the fires are only reported after being put out.
“The situation is out of control. The firefighters are overwhelmed because we have been handling fires in Mt Kenya and Aberdare in the past 10 days. The dry moorland was part of the reason the fire spread fast and further. It is an emergency.,” said Ms Weeks.
She said some criminals are most likely the ones purposely lighting the fires in the moorland adding that more than 400 firefighters have been deployed to put off the blaze.
Mount Kenya is the second tallest mountain in Africa. It’s a world heritage site and contains an incredible wilderness made up of lakes, glaciers, dense forest, mineral springs and rare animals.
The majority of fires on Mount Kenya are caused by people clearing land with fire for domestic animal grazing, to gather honey, for cannabis cultivation and charcoal burning. Also when preparing for planting season or after harvest causing the fire to spread into natural vegetation on Mount Kenya. What's Your Reaction?
