Umikoa Information Update for February 24th, 2020

Hawaii Fire Department (HFD) crews continue to battle a brush fire that is burning in open pasture land above Umikoa Village Monday morning (February 24th).

The Hawaii Fire Department (HFD) is on the scene of a brush fire that currently burning in open pasture land above Umikoa Village in Hamakua, which started Monday morning (February 24th).

The initial call came in at just before 8:01 am Monday morning and HFD crews from the Honoka'a, Waimea, and South Kohala Fire Stations along with Battalion 1, Chopper 1, Chopper 2, and volunteers from Pa'auilo and Anekona Stations responded to the scene located approximately 1-mile above Umikoa Village (located between Umikoa Village and Mana Road.

Preliminary details are that fire is currently burning inaccessible area located above Umikoa Village and requiring the assistance of a privately contracted bulldozer, which at this time is working cut a break around the perimeter of the fire to allow HFD crews to access and extinguish the brush fire.

Due to the location, HFD crews are currently utilizing both Chopper 1 and Chopper 2 to conduct water bucket operations and ground crews are utilizing 4x4 off-road vehicles and tankers to access the fire on a fire break road being made by the privately contracted bulldozer.

Weather and winds are currently in favor of HFD crews and working to get the fire under control.

Details are slowly coming in and will provide an update as it becomes available.