Kamuela Information Update for October 22nd, 2020
A small brush fire sparked near the Pu'ukapu Farm Lots in Kamuela Thursday afternoon (October 22nd).
Published by: HIRSC - Hawaii Island (Hilo and Holualoa) Team
info@hiradioscannercommunity.com
The Hawaii Fire Department (HFD) along with the Hawaii Police Department (HPD) responded to a report of a small brush fire in the area of Pu'ukapu Farm Lots in Kamuela, South Kohala Thursday afternoon (October 22nd).
The initial call came in at 3:45 pm Thursday afternoon and HFD crews from the Waimea, South Kohala, Waikoloa, and Honoka'a Fire Stations along with Battalion 2, Chopper 2, volunteers from the Anekona Station, and HPD Officers from the South Kohala Patrol responded to the scene located near 64-5500 block of Makahalau Alanui in the Pu'ukapu Farm Lots in Kamuela.
Upon the arrival of emergency crews, reports came in from nearby residents in Pu'ukapu Farm Lots reporting a brush fire broke out on hill just east of Makahalau Alanui. The fire was progressing slowly and not immediately endangering any homes in the area. Smoke from the brush fire was visible from nearby Kamuela (Waimea) town.
Once emergency crews arrived at the scene in Pu'ukapu Farm Lots, HFD crews encountered a few challenges during this firefight:
Due to limited access and terrain at the scene, HFD crews had to utilize multiple off-road vehicles and tankers to reach the location of the brush fire. Chopper 2 arrived in the area and conducted water bucket drops in areas inaccessible by ground crews. A privately contracted bulldozer was expected to arrive at the scene on Thursday evening to help cut a fire break around the perimeter of the fire.
Water supply was limited in the area and HFD Tanker and Engine were shuttling water to the scene from a water supply source located on Mana Road.
As of 6:30 pm, HFD crews reported the fire was burning on a hill east of the Pu'ukapu Farm Lots and had burned approximately 2-5+ of dry open pasture land. The fire was under control and not immediately endangering any nearby homes or structures.
A privately contracted bulldozer arrived at the scene at 6:45 pm Thursday evening and began cutting a break around the perimeter of the fire. Personnel and ranchers from the Department of Hawaiian Homelands (DHHL) also arrived at the scene and were helping HFD crews with extinguishing the fire.
HFD personnel will continue to remain at the scene overnight to monitor for hot-spots and flare-ups in the burn area.