KWS contains fire at Lake Nakuru National Park/KWS/X
A fire that broke out at Lake Nakuru National Park on Friday afternoon has been successfully contained, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) confirmed.
The blaze, which started from Lake View Estate at around 4:00 p.m., spread into the Honeymoon Hill area before emergency teams moved in to control it.
KWS said it “responded swiftly” with support from the local community, the City Fire Team, and Bondeni Police. By 10:00 p.m., the fire was fully contained.
Authorities have warned the public to exercise caution during the dry season, noting that “strong winds and dry vegetation can cause fires to spread rapidly.”
KWS emphasised the serious risks such fires pose to human life, wildlife, property, and the environment. The agency added that such incidents can destroy habitats, reduce grazing areas, and heighten human–wildlife conflict.
Fortunately, the fire ended without any casualties.
“No injuries or fatalities were recorded,” KWS said, thanking all who assisted in protecting the park.
This comes shortly after another wildfire was reported at Mt Longonot National Park on January 21.
KWS confirmed that the blaze, which started on nearby community land—suspected to have been caused by land-clearing activities—was fully contained.
The Mt Longonot fire had spread into parts of the park, prompting a coordinated response involving KWS officers, community guides, and residents.
“The fire spread into parts of Mt Longonot National Park but was swiftly contained through the joint efforts of KWS, community guides, and local community members,” the agency said.
KWS also assured the public that the incident had no connection to volcanic activity. Mt Longonot is an extinct stratovolcano with a peak of 2,776 metres above sea level.
A stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano, is a conical volcano built up by many layers (strata) of hardened lava and tephra (fragments of material produced by a volcanic eruption).
Similar fears of an eruption were raised in October 2022 when a fire broke out on the mountain.
At the time, KWS reiterated that Longonot remains an extinct stratovolcano and confirmed that the blaze was not caused by volcanic activity.
“It was not an eruption. It was a fire that broke out around the crater. The team on the ground is yet to determine the cause of the fire. The fire was immediately dealt with, and the park is now safe for use,” an official said on October 28, 2022.