Truck catches fire at Kenya Pipeline depot

Kenya Pipeline Company Managing Director Joe Sang briefs journalists about the fire incident at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Embakasi Aviation Depot on October 15, 2018. No one was injured. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • KAA acting managing director Peter Gitari said no damage was incurred by the airport.

A truck transporting degraded material caught fire at Kenya Pipeline Company’s Embakasi Aviation Depot at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Monday evening.

KPC managing director Joe Sang said the fire began as the transfer of the downgraded product from Dump Tank 401 to the company’s Nairobi Terminal was ongoing.

“Both the truck, which was being used to offload the downgraded product, and the dump tank caught fire. 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.

OPERATION

He said the fire that began shortly after 4pm was quickly brought under control before it spread, and the only damage incurred was 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 1737hrs when it was confirmed that all risks had been eliminated. Operations are now back to normal at both the airport and the KPC deport,” Mr Sang said.

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,” Mr Gitari said.