KOLOA — As many citizens able to do so often do when rural fires break out on the island, Roger Palama hopped on his backhoe and dug a fire break to help contain a pesky, wind-driven brushfire in Koloa on
KOLOA — As many citizens able to do so often do when rural fires break out on the island, Roger Palama hopped on his backhoe and dug a fire break to help contain a pesky, wind-driven brushfire in Koloa on Thursday afternoon.
Roughly 20 acres of brush burned in a fire that broke out in Koloa in the vicinity of the Ala Kino‘iki (Koloa bypass road) and Weliweli Road junction, a county press release states.
There was no immediate threat to any structures, county officials said, though one eyewitness in an nearby apartment said she was getting ready to evacuate when the heat of the flames could be felt at her apartment.
She said flames came very close to the exterior of the apartment.
No one was injured.
Kaua‘i Fire Department firefighters from the Koloa, Lihu‘e, Kalaheo and Hanapepe stations responded, as did Inter-Island Helicopters’ Air 1 and several Kaua‘i Police Department officers.
The alarm came in at around 1:20 p.m., the fire was deemed under control at 3:31 p.m. and extinguished by 6:05 p.m.
In addition to Palama’s kokua, assistance was provided by a water tanker and an excavator operator with Wa‘alani Enterprises, two water-tanker operators with Earthworks Pacific Inc., and a backhoe operator with ITC Water Management.
The cause of the fire is undetermined.
In light of the recent brushfires, KFD officials urge the public to exercise caution, don’t throw lit cigarettes out of vehicles, park vehicles on dry grass, and property owners and managers should trim trees, bushes and grass regularly.
Call the KFD Prevention Bureau, 241-4985, for more tips.
