Kamuela Information Update for September 12th, 2020

Hawaii Fire Department (HFD) crews continue to work to contain a brush fire burning along the makai (ocean) side of Highway 190 (Mamalahoa Highway) in Kamuela Saturday morning (September 12th).

Published by: HIRSC - Hawaii Island (Holualoa) Team

info@hiradioscannercommunity.com

The Hawaii Fire Department (HFD) along with the Hawaii Police Department (HPD) and Pohakuloa Training Area Fire Department (PTA Fire) are at the scene of an active brush fire burning along the makai (ocean) side of Highway 190 (Mamalahoa Highway) at the 7-mile marker in Kamuela, South Kohala that started Saturday morning (September 12th).

The initial call came in at 9:11 am Saturday morning and HFD crews from the Waikoloa, Waimea, and South Kohala Fire Stations along with Battalion 2, Chopper 2, Chopper 1, PTA Fire crews, volunteers from the Waiki'i Ranch, Kohala Ranch, Kalaoa Mauka, Pu'uanahulu, and Anekona Stations, and HPD officers from the South Kohala Patrol are at the scene located at the 7-mile marker of Highway 190 in Kamuela.

Preliminary details received is a large size brush fire along Highway 190 started shortly after 9:00 am Saturday morning and HFD crews arrived at the scene shortly thereafter and worked to contain the fire. However, the breezy winds and dry brush in the area, caused the fire to grow in size and was currently pushing the fire downhill. The fire did jump over the mauka (mountain) side of Highway 190 near the 7-mile marker, however, a quick response by HFD crews was able to get that fire quickly contained and focused to the main seed of the fire.

Fire crews encountered a few challenges:

• Limited access to the fire caused HFD crews to utilize 4x4 brush trucks and tankers to reach the perimeter of the brush fire. A privately contracted bulldozer was responding to the scene to assist fire crews with creating a fire break to contain the fire. Chopper 1 and 2 were also arriving at the scene to conduct water bucket drops to assist with reaching areas inaccessible by ground crews.

• Water supply was very limited at the scene and HFD and PTA Fire personnel utilized tankers to shuttle water to the scene and from a water supply source located down the road in Kamuela.

HFD crews estimate the fire has burned approximately 20+ acres in size and was burning in open pasture land of Parker Ranch and no threat to structures.

HPD officers closed Highway 190 between Old Saddle Road and Waikoloa Road while HFD crews continued to work to contain the fire.