NYERI, Kenya, Feb 17 – Two officers from the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) have died while rushing to battle the ongoing fire that broke out at the Aberdare eleven days ago.
According to KWS Wildlife Services director in charge of partnership Simon Gitau, the two died on Monday while in the line of duty .
“The two officers were in a group travelling to the scene when a vehicle they were travelling in lost control and veered off unfortunately they were injured and died ” said Gitau.
Consequently Gitau urged members of communities near the forest to assist in fighting the inferno which may threatens Mooreland the source of water.
“Currently the fire is at Mooreland this is where water source of many rivers in Aberdare and if we have such fires oftenly this may reduce water retention and effect supply even in the city ” said Gitau.
The fire which started at embaringo in Nyeri has so far spread to as far as shamata in Nyandarua county leaving a huge destruction in it’s wake.
The last time such a fire broke was in 2012 and saw huge swaths of the forest being destroyed.
KWS assistant director of mountain conservation Bakari Mungumi, stated that they have been working day and night to try and keep the fire out, which is spreading very fast.
Bakari added that with the help of KFS, Nyeri county, Nyandarua county governments, Kenya pipeline and Rhino Arch, they have deployed more than 200 personnel who are fighting the fire.
He said that more than 40,000 acres of the forest has so far been destroyed by the inferno.
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