LIHUE (AP) — State officials may again close access to areas near two state parks on Kauai following a fire that destroyed an arboretum. The fire on Makaha Ridge, at the dry southern end of Kauai’s Na Pali Coast, destroyed
LIHUE (AP) — State
officials may again close access to areas near two state parks on Kauai
following a fire that destroyed an arboretum.
The fire on Makaha Ridge, at
the dry southern end of Kauai’s Na Pali Coast, destroyed about four acres of
assorted conifers and eucalyptus Sunday night.
Ed Petteys, head of the
Kauai office of the state Division of Forestry and Wildlife, said a cigarette
or illegal campfire probably was the cause.
Open burning has been banned in
the Kauai highlands for months because of dry conditions.
State forestry
and parks officials closed access to many of the dry ridges of the lower
forests around Kokee State Park and Waimea Canyon State Park late last year.
The ban was lifted after rains in January.
An eight-member forestry crew
continued working at the fire site on Tuesday and is expected to remain through
the week.
