NAIROBI, Kenya — A fire that has been raging in the Mt Kenya forest since September 1 has destroyed more than 3,000 hectares of forest land, Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa has said.
Barasa said on Monday that about 85 per cent of the fire had been contained, as more than 400 personnel continued efforts to extinguish the remaining sections of the blaze.
The firefighting operation involves personnel from the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), local communities and other partners.
More than 400 personnel deployed
According to Barasa, the response team includes 100 KFS personnel and 144 KDF officers, alongside community members and personnel from partner organisations.
The teams have been working to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to additional sections of the forest.
Despite the scale of the blaze, Barasa said no casualties had been reported so far.
The ongoing containment operation is expected to continue until all remaining hotspots are brought under control.
Invasive species accelerate spread
Barasa attributed the rapid spread of the fire partly to invasive plant species found in the affected areas.
The vegetation can provide additional fuel for wildfires, allowing flames to spread quickly under favourable conditions.
The development highlights the challenge posed by invasive species in forest ecosystems, particularly during periods when dry vegetation can increase the risk and intensity of fires.
Authorities are expected to assess the affected areas further once firefighting and recovery operations are complete.
Small animals affected by fire
While large wildlife has so far largely escaped the effects of the blaze, Barasa said smaller animals had not been as fortunate.
She said animals including rats and squirrels had been burnt in areas affected by the fire.
The extent of the ecological damage remains unclear, with a comprehensive assessment expected after the fire has been fully contained.
Mt Kenya is an important ecological area and supports a wide range of plant and animal species, making the impact of a fire covering thousands of hectares a significant environmental concern.
Government reviews wildfire response
Barasa said the incident should serve as a lesson for the government as it reviews its strategies for preventing and responding to forest fires.
She said authorities need to strengthen existing mitigation measures and improve their ability to deploy firefighting teams rapidly when similar incidents occur.
