Fire burns Koke‘e after rescue

State firefighters and the Air-1 helicopter worked yesterday afternoon to extinguish a Koke‘e blaze that was reportedly intentionally set by a missing person attempting to draw attention to his plight and attract rescuers.

The missing person, described as a male in his 20s by a representative of Inter-Island Helicopters, went up into the Sugi Grove area of Koke‘e on Thursday in search of maile, a vine used for special occasions, according to county spokeswoman Mary Daubert.

When the man did not return as originally planned, he was reported missing yesterday at around noon, Daubert said. Four Kaua‘i Fire Department personnel responded in Engine 7 and Truck 7, with Rescue 3 from Lihu‘e also en route, but Air-1 saw the man while conducting some airlifts in the area and picked he and his dog up.

After dropping the man and dog off at the Hanapepe hangar, Air-1 then returned to Koke‘e to execute water drops in conjunction with the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Forestry and Wildlife branch, according to DLNR spokeswoman Debbie Ward. Three state firefighters were also standing by to fly in and do ground work if necessary.

Ward described the fire’s location as being a mile south of the swamp trail in a difficult-to-access area. The terrain in the area is flat, swampy, and the fire is burning in a native plant community of auwe, Ward said.

DLNR hoped to contain the fire yesterday, she said. An Inter-Island Helicopter representative said pilot Ken D’Attillio made a late afternoon request for his night vision goggles, indicating the firefight might not be completed before sundown.

DLNR’s Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement officers were investigating.

• Michael Levine, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or via e-mail at mlevine@kauaipubco.com