Tension was high on Sunday evening as three-quarter acres of Njuki ini Forest in Kirinyaga was ravaged by an inferno, whose source remains unknown.
County conservator of forests Peter Nganga confirmed the incidents saying officers attached to Kenya Forest Services, the county fire department and neighbouring residents managed to put out the fire before it could spread to other parts.
Nganga said no casualty or injuries of both people and animals was registered in the process of extinguishing the fire.
“We responded very swiftly to the fire before it could spread to other parts of the forest. Members of the public came in handy to give a helping hand. We are yet to know the source of the fire and we have embarked on investigating the matter,” he told the Star on phone.
He said despite the fire dying down, his officers are monitoring the situation to ensure that no embers were left that could possibly restart the fire.
The forest nests on 574.7 hectares of land and is sandwiched between communities that also actively participate in conserving it.
He has urged the public to be cautious while dealing with fires, especially during the current dry season. He urged farmers to be keen while using fires on their farms.
He said the destruction would be detrimental to the country’s ecosystem as many forests serve as water towers and coolant systems.
The head of the county fire department John Kiama called on residents to refrain from using fire while in the forests.
He particularly cautioned smokers from dropping glowing matchsticks on the ground as that could easily start a fire owing to the dry vegetation.
“Those harvesting honey in forests should also be careful and try to refrain from using any fire while harvesting honey if possible,” he said.
The fire started in the wake of another fire which has since razed acres of Aberdare Forest and claimed the lives of two Kenya Wildlife Service officers.
