The Kealia community helped douse a brush fire on Lihu’e Plantation land Sept. 26, and Kaua’i Fire Department is grateful. Before it was out, the blaze destroyed 60 acres. The toll would have been worse without the help of individuals
The Kealia community helped douse a brush fire on Lihu’e Plantation land Sept.
26, and Kaua’i Fire Department is grateful.
Before it was out, the blaze
destroyed 60 acres. The toll would have been worse without the help of
individuals and businesses that pitched in, said fire chief David
Sproat.
“We couldn’t have extinguished the fire that quickly without them,”
he said.
A plantation employee called the Fire Department after a tractor
blade hit a stone, causing a spark that ignited the blaze. When firefighters
arrived at 12:55 p.m., 30 acres of sugar cane were already burning.
Eight
firefighters battled the blaze for nearly seven hours. During that time, Sproat
said, help came from:
l Justin Hughes, who provided a bulldozer, water
tankers and manpower.
l Bruce Layman, who sent equipment and manpower (Kane
Pa).
l Alex Domendez of Goodfellows (water tanker and more manpower).
l
Steve Gomes, through whom Lihu’e Plantation provided loaders, water tankers and
elbow grease.
l Jose Maneja of Lihu’e Plantation, who operated a water
tanker.
“We are very grateful for the help,” Sproat said.
