Eldoret airstrip has been affected by fire which consumed a bigger part of the property. The initial reports of the fire emerged at mid-day but the fire reportedly lasted several hours.
A huge fire forced workers to manually push a light aircraft to safety and move tanks of jet fuel to avoid a more disaster.
Light flights to the airstrip have been cancelled after the fire that lasted more than four hours.
Citizens joined together in efforts to put off the inferno but they could not manage by their own.A four-seater plane and 20 tanks of highly inflammable jet fuel that had been parked near the hanger had to be relocated by workers.
Emergency response teams including firefighters arrived at the scene in a bid to contain the inferno.
Estimated 10 acres of the Eldoret Airstrip’s land had been engulfed by the fire.
Huge smoke was also seen billowing from the scene and planes enroute for the facility were diverted to the Eldoret International Airport.
A senior official from Eldoret International Airport Samson Luvutsa said the fire has however been controlled
“There is no cause for alarm as we have been assisted by members of the public to put off the fire,” said Luvutsa.
“We are investigating the cause of the fire and ensuring that everything is in order before we resume normal operations,” Luvutsa said.
He praised members of the public for responding very fast to help put off the fire even before fire engines arrived.