The question remains as to why this happened?  

Wish the true Gambians living in Kanilai all the best



A bush fire, which spiraled out of control Monday and raged for two days, 
ravaged much of President Jammeh’s forest park in his birthplace of Kanilai, 
killing animals and destroying trees. The fire was so devastating that some 
of the animals the president is rearing in his “garden” had to be evacuated 
to a safe land corridor as food shortage descended on the animals. 
The destruction had also left the president shocked and saddened. The fire 
was allegedly caused by two women preparing local herbs in the early hours of 
Monday morning in Kanwally village. The two still reported to be at large, 
were reportedly preparing some Busesab (in Jola) used to mix with tobacco 
powder locally called Piris when the fire quickly spiraled out of control, 
spreading to a near-by bush despite valiant efforts by the two women to put 
it off. According to reports the fire ravaged everything on its path fiercely 
traveling at a high velocity later in the afternoon. By this time it was 
already encroaching on President Jammeh’s Forest Park in Kanilai, a habitat 
for many wild animals such as lions, wolves, turtles, zebras and other animal 
species.
It lasted for two days before 700 youths from surrounding villages and the 
combined waterpower of the fire fighters from Banjul, Serekunda and Kotu fire 
Brigade finally overcame it but not before it left a trail of destruction to 
trees and grass fed on by the animals which were evacuated to a safer place 
far removed from the path of the inferno. A bush pig was however not as 
lucky. It was burnt to death. The Alkalo of kanilai Alhagie Maseray Jammeh 
who expressed regrets over the incident was said to have vowed to come down 
heavily on the two women for starting the fire and “in the twinkling of an 
eye caused several thousands of Dalasis worth of damage”.
Meanwhile unconfirmed reports have indicated that President Jammeh who was 
shocked and saddened over the incident promised to visit the area soon to 
access the damage. However up to the time of going to press there was no 
independent confirmation whether this has taken place. In recent months bush 
fires have become rampant mostly in provincial areas. A bush fire in the 
North Bank Division earlier this month destroyed the whole village of Kerr 
Sheick Taal, killing livestock, destroying food stuffs and leaving villagers 
as destitute. 
 

    
    

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