The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has confirmed that the fire that swept through parts of Aberdare Forest in Nyandarua County has been contained after destroying more than 200 acres of forest land.

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KWS said the blaze, which was reported in Aberdare National Park on August 28, has been significantly reduced, with teams continuing to monitor the affected areas and extinguish remaining hotspots.

The fire was first reported around Kinangop Peak before spreading to other sections of the forest, with strong winds making it difficult for firefighting teams to bring the blaze under control.

KWS said 62 personnel and community volunteers have been deployed to the affected areas, with support from the Kenya Forest Service, Rhino Ark, AJSU and the local administration.

📌 What You Need to Know

Aerial surveillance and ground teams are also continuing to monitor the forest and conduct mop-up operations to ensure the remaining hotspots are fully extinguished.

The Aberdare fire comes months after another significant fire incident was reported at Lake Nakuru National Park, highlighting the fire risks facing Kenya's protected conservation areas.

In February, KWS confirmed that a fire had broken out at Lake Nakuru National Park after images showing large flames across parts of the conservation area circulated widely on social media.

The images showed long lines of bright orange flames stretching across hills and open sections of the park, raising concerns over the extent of the fire.

KWS, however, said its team a t Lake Nakuru National Park worked through the night and successfully contained the fire before it could spread further across the protected area.

Back in Aberdare, much of the land destroyed by the latest fire was covered by bamboo trees, according to Nyandarua County KWS boss Paul Wambugu.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke