Fear gripped residents of Kesicho village in Kyogong, Chepalungu, on Saturday afternoon after a wildfire swept through local bushes and grassland.
Large numbers of residents rushed to the scene to fight the blaze before it could reach nearby homes.
Bernard Towett, a resident and motorcycle operator, stressed the urgency of the response.
”We cannot leave the fire until we have completely put it out, since many homes could be affected and consumed,” Towett said by phone.
Towett added that residents suspect a discarded burning cigarette triggered the blaze.
The Kenya Red Cross Society and the county disaster management department dispatched officers to assess the situation.
County Disaster Officer Stanley Mutai sought to reassure the public, confirming that the situation was under control and the fire had been contained. Mutai noted that there were no casualties and that the damage was confined to shrubs and grassland.
He warned locals to remain vigilant, noting that dry weather significantly increases the risk of such incidents.
”There is a high possibility of wildfires breaking out during dry spells, and everyone should ensure any fire is quickly put out before it spreads to large fields or becomes unmanageable,” Mutai said.
The blaze has left livestock owners without grazing land after consuming large swathes of pasture. Affected residents are now appealing to the county government for subsidized animal feed to sustain their herds.
