The Uasin Gishu County government has set aside Sh5 million for a fire station to be put up in Burnt Forest.
County fire chief officer Peter Kurgat said construction of the fire station will start next month. He said that a local contractor has been identified and awarded the tender for the job.
Speaking from his Eldoret office on Monday, the official said the station will boost disaster response and management in Burnt Forest and adjacent towns.
He said that Burnt Forest has been relying on services from Eldoret.
“We expect the response to disasters like fires and accidents to improve once the station is operational,” he said.
The official said that the county government will purchase modern fire engines and equipment for the station.
He also said that local youths will be trained on matters disaster response and management. At the same time, Kurgat called on students within the county to take up disaster management courses.
Kurgat said that enrolment for disaster management courses within the county were poor adding that disaster management has become lucrative with the changing technology.