Aberdare Ranges fire put out

The fire that has been raging in the Aberdare Ranges for the last two weeks has been put out, thanks to the onset of the long rains.

The fire, which started on March 15, destroyed an estimated 5,000 hectares of the forest.

“The fire was put out with the aid of rains and joint efforts of the local community, Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Forest Service, Kenya Army and the National Youth Service,” a statement from Kenya Wildlife Service said.

The Aberdares Ranges is one of the five water towers in Kenya.

The fire broke out in the moorlands and had spread fast due to dry vegetation, strong winds and high temperatures during the day.

The areas seriously affected by the fire outbreak include the grassland areas on the moorlands which got burned last year.

A similar fire had burned the Mt Kenya forest, another water tower, for close to two weeks destroying 10 percent of the forest and leading to heavy losses in terms of indigenous trees and wildlife.

In the Aberdares, KWS said the fire outbreak didn’t destroy the indigenous/bamboo forest.

“We would like to express our appreciation to the local community, Kenya Forest Service, the Kenya Army and National Youth Service for helping in fighting the fire,” the statement said.

“We are also grateful to the well-wishers who supported us with fuel and food supplies as well as the media for updating the public on efforts to contain the fire.”

The other water towers are Mau forest, Cherangany and Mt Elgon.