Authorities say 550 hectares of Aberdare forest destroyed in fire fanned by strong wind, dry vegetation
NAIROBI, Kenya
A fierce fire in Kenya that started on Saturday night has gone out of control, devouring 550 hectares of the Aberdare forest, which is among the East African country’s most important water catchment areas.
Rhino Ark, a charitable wildlife trust working in the Aberdare ecosystem, reported that additional trained firefighters were deployed by chopper to the southern fire line to contain the raging inferno.
Community members from the northern Aberdare forest in central Kenya were among the first responders to help stop the fire.
“Rangers from Kenya Wildlife Service and the Kenya Forest Service and community members are battling the wildfires in the Aberdare moorlands. An aerial recce conducted by Rhino Ark shows improvement,” the wildlife trust said.
Authorities in the area confirmed that over 550 hectares (1.359 acres) of forest have been destroyed by the raging fire.
