By Fatima Saka
The fire outbreak which occured at Kenya’s Aberdare National Park has been contained by firefighters after 48 hours of fighting.
The fire which started on Saturday night destroyed more than 550 hectares of Kenya’s Aberdare, Kenya Forest Service (KFS) said Monday adding that arson is suspected to be behind the inferno.
A team comprising of community members, officers from KWS, KFS and conservation groups worked to put out the fires until Monday afternoon when the fire was contained.
However, the following containment operation, response groups began mopping up the smouldering areas to prevent the fire from reigniting.
“The fires have been contained but there is a danger they can re-ignite but the teams will mop up the smouldering areas. We have had times when the undergrowth is still smouldering like a charcoal kiln and can get set off again with lots of wind. But for now, the flames above ground are out,” Executive Director for Mount Kenya Trust, Sussie Weeks said.
Kenya Forest Service has warned of imminent fire danger season as heightened surveillance begins in forested areas across the Mt. Kenya ecosystem.