Fighting Bush Fires in National Parks

By Gichuki Kabukuru

With distraught written all over his face, Otungah Barasa, Senior Warden Ruma National Park, watched helplessly as rough winds blew what was a small fire ignited by truant boys from the Parks' neighborhood; into a fiery bush fire that razed acres of his otherwise grassland Park.

“The history of this unique Park is replete with ferocious bush fires perennially burning huge chunks of this very important home for the endangered Roan Antelope,” reveals a concerned Otungah.

According to a an erstwhile troubled Otungah, “the latest out-break of fire burnt more than three quarters of this small Park and thus endangering the few remnants of the Roan Antelopes. And mark you this is not 10-years ago but just as recent as late 2005.

“And the most unfortunate bit is not just the politicization of this very grave issue but the fact that barely 17 year-old children are at times used in perpetrating this vice, not withstanding the risk that Kenya and the World stands if the little population of Roan Antelopes are wiped out,” Otunga notes.

However, like most savannah parks in the country, Ruma National Park is no exception; the same unfortunate fate befalls the mighty Tsavo’s, Nairobi National Park and even Mountain Parks in the vein of Aberdare, Mt. Kenya and Mt. Elgon, not forgetting Chyulu Hills National Park.

Charcoal burning left unattended, uncontrolled rangeland burning on neighboring ranches and pastoral areas, poachers using bush fires to flash out wild animals and traditional honey gathering techniques are some of the reasons fronted for escalating fire incidences in protected areas.

According to Dan Woodley, Officer in charge of Problem Animal Management Unit (PAMU), “all fires, forest or otherwise in Kenya, are started by people.

“Of this fires 40% are classified as arson, 20% are caused by negligence and carelessness and 40% are due to unknown causes.”

He further notes, “unlike in the past when huge chunks of grazing lands were free of any occupation, the reverse is evident today and this has increased the prevalence of wild fire occurrences as observed.

“95% of fierce bush fires within protected areas neighboring pastoral communities have become more common as the demand for land increases and the pressure by people on the protected areas for natural resources become more pronounced.”

Although Woodley is of the opinion that, the causes of wild fires are as many as there are people who live around the protected area boundaries, the threat in the past was further exasperated by the fact that KWS had no fire control burning policy within the Parks and Reserves under its jurisdiction.

“On the event that a smoke or a gush of flames was sighted, Park Wardens were quick to marshal all the support they could get, but which in most cases was quite inadequate. In many cases they would only watch as the fire razed acres of grass,” intimates Paul Gathitu, former Warden, Nairobi National Park.

It is these perennial incidences of fire outbreaks in protected areas that have now seen KWS management seek for alternatives in the fight against these incidental bush fires.

“As part of our endeavors to equip our Park Managers with the latest Park running technologies, we have contracted fire fighting and control experts from Brazil,” states James Nyakundi, a senior KWS security officer.

“Our main reason of bringing in the Brazilian experts is because of their advancement and expertise in bush fire control techniques and know-how; and we are optimistic that their planned rounds of training with our men will enhance our bush fire fighting skills now and in future,” Nyakundi intimated.

According to Nyakundi under whose docket falls the fire fighting training, “we have programmed this course using a multi-pronged approach. A general fire fighting course will be taught to all field officers, followed shortly, by a site-specific one where officers in fire prone areas will receive special lessons depending on their terrain.”

“KWS is confident of the input from the experienced Brazilian fire fighters. We are optimistic that their teachings will enhance the capacity of our officers in the fight against incidental fires. This is also a sign of our renewed commitment to the security and safety of all the tourists who visit our facilities,” Nyakundi surmised.

Ends.

The writer is a corporate communication officer with KWS.