The fire that broke out on Mount Muhabura in Volcanoes National Park has been successfully extinguished, but monitoring is continuing to prevent possible reignition, police have said. The fire broke out on Friday, August 14, with smoke first spotted at around 6 a.m. at an altitude of about 3,000 metres. ALSO READ: Firefighters respond to wildfire on Mount Muhabura Firefighting teams, including rangers, Rwanda Development Board (RDB), local authorities, community members and security organs, were mobilised to contain the blaze. CIP Ignace Ngirabakunzi, the Police spokesperson in Northern Province, has told The New Times that the fire was extinguished on the evening of August 14, although teams are still monitoring the area to avoid possible reignition. “During this sunny season, any trigger could cause serious fire outbreaks,” Ngirabakunzi told The New Times. ALSO READ: Muhabura: 60 years in the heart of Rwanda’s tourism He urged people to avoid activities that could trigger fires, including smoking in areas with dry vegetation, carrying fire from one place to another and burning grass. “Fire can spread easily during this time when things are dried,” he said. Eugene Mutangana, Executive Secretary of Rwanda Nature Foundation, which manages the park, previously said more than 15 hectares had been estimated to have been affected by the fire, although the exact area would be established after it was fully contained. Mutangana said no people had been affected by the fire. The exact cause of the fire remains unknown. However, Mutangana said authorities suspected it could be linked to people harvesting honey in the area. Firefighting teams had cut grass on the eastern side of the park, which is more exposed and has savanna vegetation, to slow the spread of the fire and prevent it from reaching the forested area. Ngirabakunzi said the cause had not yet been conclusively established, with investigations still ongoing. He added that the successful response involved collaboration with communities and other actors, while mobilisation and monitoring activities were continuing. “We are keeping on doing the mobilisation,” he said. Police have urged residents to remain cautious during the dry and sunny period, warning that dry vegetation can allow fires to spread quickly once ignited. Mount Muhabura, one of the volcanoes in the Virunga Massif, rises to 4,127 metres above sea level and lies along the Rwanda-Uganda border.
