Na'alehu Information Update for December 10th, 2020
Hawaii Fire Department (HFD) crews contain a brush fire near Whittington Beach Park in Ka'ū that occurred Tuesday evening (December 8th).
Published by: HIRSC - Hawaii Island (Holualoa) and Nevada (Henderson) Team
info@hiradioscannercommunity.com
The Hawaii Fire Department (HFD) along with the Hawaii Police Department (HPD) responded to a report of a brush fire in the area of Whittington Beach Park in Ka'ū Tuesday evening (December 9th).
The initial call came in at 7:45 pm Tuesday evening and HFD Crews from the Pāhala, Na'alehu, Volcano, Central (Tanker 1), and HOVE (Hawaiian Ocean View Estates) Fire Stations along with Battalion 1, Chopper 1, Volunteers from the Pāhala, Na'alehu, Discovery Harbor, and Ocean View Stations, and HPD officers from the Ka'ū Patrol responded to the scene located just east of Whittington Beach Park in Honuapo.
Upon the arrival of emergency crews, 911 calls came in from bystanders reporting a brush fire burning in open pasture land near Whittington Beach Park. The fire was burning towards slowly moving to the ocean and shoreline.
Once emergency crews arrived at the scene, HFD personnel found an approximately 2+ acre brush fire burning along the road in Honuapo outside of Whittington Beach Park and worked to contain the brush fire. Due to the culturally sensitive sites in the area, HFD crews were limited to existing paved and off-road trails for firefighting efforts. Due to limited water supply at the scene, HFD Engines and Tankers were utilized to shuttle water from a water supply source in Na'alehu to the scene.
The fire burning along the ocean side eventually burned itself out late Tuesday evening and HFD ground crews focused efforts to extinguish the fire front slowly spreading towards Whittington Beach Park. At first light on Wednesday morning (December 9th), HFD Chopper 1 arrived at the scene and conducted water bucket drops in areas inaccessible by ground personnel. The fire was contained on Wednesday morning and HFD crews continued all-day Wednesday to extinguish hot-spots within the burn area.
HFD Chopper 1 overflight the brush fire had scorched an estimated 10 acres between Whittington Beach Park and Honuapo. No injuries were reported to HFD personnel and officials say they will be monitoring the area over the next few days for flare-ups and hot-spots.
Whittington Beach Park and Honuapo shoreline were closed to the public all-day Wednesday as a precaution while HFD crews continued to work at the scene.