Mt Kenya fire re-ignites at Chogoria Park entrance week after KWS put it off

Mt Kenya forest has re-ignited just days after Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) announced that they had managed to put it out.

Speaking on Friday, Tharaka Nithi County, Forest Chief Conservator Monica Kalenda stated that the fire had started to blaze at the entrance of Chogoria park.

An update issued by the Kenya Forest Service indicated that 68 staff members had been deployed to combat the fire at various parts of the forest.

Image of fire blazing through parts of the Mt Kenya forest Pulse Live Kenya

Statement from Kenya Forest Service on Mt Kenya fire

"Within the Aberdare ranges, Sofia/Wanjohi areas of Geta forest, the fire is still burning despite efforts of 68 personnel from KFS, Community Forest Association and Rhino Ark.

"Rough terrain characterized by cliffs and gorges has continued to be a challenge to fire fighters. The responders had largely suppressed the fire by early afternoon yesterday only for more fire to reappear at the steep cliffs.

"Today a team has moved up to the cliffs and will remained stationed there. Yesterday fire outbreak was also reported in Aberdare moorland area boundary between Nyeri and Nyandarua at an area called Embaringo," the statement read in part.

Image of fire blazing through parts of the Mt Kenya forest on Friday Pulse Live Kenya

The statement ended with: "In Mt Kenya, fire is reported to have ignited near Chogoria gate, at the same location where there was fire last week. A re-ignition of stumps or dead wood or even roots that had harboured fire is suspected to be the cause."

There's a common belief in the region which suggests that the burning forest triggers rains which may explain why the forest area experiences the fires annually.

Unconfirmed reports indicate that human activity may be behind the fires.