Kenyan military deployed to fight fire in Tsavo park

Authorities in Kenya have deployed the military to support fire fighters who are battling to put out a big fire at the Tsavo National Park.

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has blamed arsonists for the latest fire which started on Saturday.

Hundred of local volunteers have also been called on to help.

Tsavo, in south-eastern Kenya, is the country’s biggest national park and home to hundreds of animals such as lions, elephants and buffaloes.

It is visited by thousands of local and international tourists each year.

The fires come at a time when the Kenyan government is pushing for a revival of the crucial tourism industry which has lost $1bn (£770m) in revenue due to Covid-19.

KWS described the fire as “horrendous” and thanked the hundreds of volunteers trying to put out the fire.

“Your efforts and sacrifices are appreciated beyond words,” the service said on Twitter.

The military is also using helicopters to pour water on the fire.

In July, several fires ravaged the Tsavo area.

“The combination of long rains earlier in the year, which saw grasses grow tall, strong winds and inaccessible areas have made this a high fire risk period in Tsavo,” a conservation group called the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust explained in July.