The speedy intervention by the Uasin Gishu Fire firefighters saved several businesses from going up in flames during a raging fire that broke out at Premkar Hardware, located within Kitale town, on Wednesday morning.

The intervention demonstrates the commitment of the Governor Dr Jonathan Bii-led administration to having a vibrant fire and rescue service that is well-trained and equipped to respond to incidents not only in Uasin Gishu but also beyond the borders.

Uasin Gishu Chief Fire Officer David Sitati said they responded following a distress call from their counterparts in Tranz Nzoia and business owners.

“The fierce fire broke out at around 9.30 a.m. and had overwhelmed the Trans Nzoia County fire brigade who requested our intervention after struggling to contain the fire for more than an hour,” he stated.

The Uasin Gishu team of 10 firefighters took less than an hour to arrive at the scene with a fire engine, water bowser and a commander vehicle to contain the fire which had caused panic in the entire Kitale town.

According to the Tranz Nzoia County Director of Fire and Disaster Management, the fire started from a generator in the hardware which was on and caught fire after electricity went off in most parts of the town.

“The hardware had a lot of flammable paints that exploded and led to the fire spreading to the entire building. We thank God there are no casualties or fatalities. We also thank Governors Bii and Natembeya for their collaboration and support,” he said.

The Trans Nzoia residents and the owner of the business expressed their gratitude to the county government of Uasin Gishu for its quick response to the incident.