Posted on Monday 25 February 2008 - 09:31
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AfricaNews editorProfile2108 messages
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Dennis Itumbi, AfricaNews reporter in Nairobi, Kenya
Kenyan Tourism got yet another major blow when Wild fire destroyed thousands of acres of pasture and vegetation at the world famous Lake Nakuru National Park Friday.
The fire which police said was accidental is said to have started in the late hours of Thursday night and burnt for the entire day.
However, residents claim that an arson attack that was carried out at the Lord Delamere Soysambu ranch on Wednesday spread to the park causing damage estimated to be worth millions of shillings.
Rift Valley Provincial Police Officer Joseph Ashimala deployed hundreds of regular police, administration police, GSU personell, forest guards, park wardens and the Kenya army to fight the fire that rapidly spread through the park famously known as the "Bird watcher's paradise".
Clouds of smoke could be seen from miles away as the forces fought a losing battle to quell the fire.
Wildlife at the park started fleeing as early as Thursday night and by Friday afternoon, hundreds of gazelles, impalas, buffaloes, hyenas, wilderbeasts, antelopes and giraffes had converged at the shores of Lake Nakuru.
The forces had a particularly hard time in fighting the fire as the only fire engine that once belonged to the Municipal council of Nakuru was set ablaze when post election violence erupted in Nakuru on January 25.
However, a fire engine from the Armed Forces Training College (AFTC) in Lanet was immediately dispatched to help in the fire fighting efforts.
The fire engine was used to ensure that the fire did not spread to either the Sarova Lion Hill Lodge or the Lake Nakuru Lodge two of the tourist hotels inside the park.
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