Fire razes section of depot at JKIA
By BRIAN OKINDAA fire on Monday evening razed a section of the Kenya Pipeline Company’s Embakasi Aviation Depot at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
The fire, according to KPC managing director Joe Sang, started when a lorry transporting degraded material from Dump Tank 401, within the premises’ plant area, caught fire and burst into flames.
The fire, Mr Sang said, began as the transfer of the downgraded product from the dump tank to the company’s Nairobi Terminal was ongoing, when it ignited.
“Both the truck, which was being used to offload the downgraded product, and the dump tank caught fire and the KPC team alongside Kenya Airports Authority, Nairobi County Fire Brigade, Kenya Defence Forces and the Kenya Police promptly acted, cordoning off the area as they put out the fire,” Mr Sang said.
PUT UNDER CONTROL
He said the fire which began shortly after 4pm was quickly put under control before it spread, and the only damage incurred was of the truck.
“As part of the requisite security measures taken while containing the fire, business was temporarily stopped by suspending supplies to the JKIA.
“However, activities resumed at around 1737 hrs, when it was confirmed that all risks had been eliminated. Operations are now back to normal at both the airport and the KPC deport,” said Mr Sang.
He added KPC, alongside other security agencies such as the National Police Service, have since embarked on investigations to ascertain the cause of the fire.
KAA acting managing director Peter Gitari said no damage was incurred by the airport.
“It is only the lorry which was doing the transporting, that was burnt. Operations in the airport were not affected by the fire,” said Mr Gitari.