Kenya Red Cross reports new wildfire outbreak in Isiolo county
Kenya Red Cross has reported another wildfire outbreak in Sericho Isiolo County barely a month after at least 190,000 acres of grazing land were affected by the raging Isiolo wildfire.
In a statement on Thursday night, February 13, 2025, the Kenya Red Cross said that emergency responders have been activated following reports of another wildfire outbreak.
“Reports of another wildfire outbreak in Sericho, Isiolo County. Emergency responders in the area have been activated and are working to contain the situation.,” Kenya Red Cross reported.
Isiolo County has recently faced devastating wildfires that have significantly impacted its semi-arid regions.
Previous wildfires
This is the latest in a series of wildfires that have struck Isiolo County recently, in mid-January 2025, the 6 -day forest fire destroyed at least 190,000 acres across the county’s vast areas of grazing land, posing severe threats to local herders and wildlife.
The fire wildfire originated in the Malkagalla area of Merti while the second fire ignited near the Lorian swamp in Sericho.
“For the last two days, we have been responding alongside @KWSKenya and community members to contain the wildfire in Sericho, Garbatula Sub County, Isiolo. The fire remains active, spreading toward Sericho, Biliki, Badana and Basa villages. Specialized equipment is being mobilized as efforts continue. We remain on the ground, responding and closely monitoring the situation,” Kenya Red Cross stated on January 19, 2025.
On Wednesday, January 22, 2025, the Kenya Red Cross revealed that attempts by the multi-agency response team and the community to establish firebreaks and contain the fire have been unsuccessful.
The agency says that so far, no injuries or displacements have been reported.
“The situation remains active. Attempts by the multi-agency response team and the community to establish firebreaks and contain the fire have been unsuccessful. No injuries or displacements have been reported.
“However, at least 190,000 acres of grazing land have been affected. The mobilisation of specialised equipment, led by @NDOCKenya (Kenya National Disaster Operation Centre), including bulldozers, tractors, excavators and air support, is still underway to scale up containment efforts.” the statement read in part.
Govt warning
On Sunday, January 26, 2025, Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Raymond Omollo issued a stern warning to locals against the reckless lighting of fires in the area during dry and windy seasons while giving an update on the forest inferno that swept through parts of two sub-counties in Isiolo County.
Speaking at Sericho in Isiolo County PS Omollo said that the fires that had mainly affected animal pastures in Chenab and Garbatula sub-counties in Isiolo County have been contained.
“The emergency teams were dispatched to the two vast areas immediately after the raging fires started, “PS Omollo said.
The PS went on to say that investigations are being conducted to ascertain whether the fires were caused by herdsmen or honey harvesters
