Farmers Dig Trenches to Contain Two-Month Fire

[Archival Sense]

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Farmers in Kabale District have resorted to digging trenches to contain a fire that has been burning beneath the ground in Rwakihirwa Wetland for two months, destroying farmland and damaging livestock farms.

The fire is believed to be burning peat, a layers of dead and decaying plant material that build up in wetland soil over many years. When this material dries out and catches fire, it can continue smoldering underground for long periods, making it difficult to extinguish.

Smoke from the fire has also reduced visibility for motorists using the Kabale-Katuna Road, raising concerns about road safety.

Kabale Deputy Resident District Commissioner Michael Kyakashari has directed district natural resources officials to investigate the fire scientifically, establish its cause and recommend possible ways to contain it.

The investigation is expected to guide efforts to control the fire and limit further damage to farmland and livestock farms.

Video Courtesy of Daily Monitor