KOKE‘E — It couldn’t have started in a worse place, said a volunteer who helped fight a brush fire in a remote area in the Na Pali-Kona Forest Reserve Monday. The brush fire was reported Monday afternoon on Miloli‘i
KOKE‘E — It couldn’t have started in a worse place, said a volunteer who helped fight a brush fire in a remote area in the Na Pali-Kona Forest Reserve Monday.
The brush fire was reported Monday afternoon on Miloli‘i Ridge in an area filled with molasses grass and slash pine. By Tuesday it had grown into a 40-acre wildfire, according to Department of Land and Natural Resources.
State firefighters continued fighting the blaze into Tuesday evening.
While individual torching of trees was witnessed and the fire was considered active, there was no wind so it was not expected to spread rapidly, according to a DLNR press release.
There were 15 forestry personnel and two wildfire trucks with mobile water pump units on the scene Tuesday, in addition to three helicopters providing water drops, according to the DLNR.
The terrain was very steep and crews were constructing a fire line and extinguishing hot spots with hand tools, according to the press release. No injuries have been reported.
That wasn’t the only fire that started Monday on the Westside.
Kaua‘i Fire Department firefighters also doused a two-acre blaze east of Waimea, above a residential area known as Pakala Camp.
While fighting that fire, they were put on stand-by for the Miloli‘i Ridge blaze, which county press releases initially identified as being near Makaha Ridge.
The Pakala Camp fire blaze broke out at about 2 p.m. Monday and strong winds quickly moved the fire downhill until it was brought under control at 2:35 p.m., said county spokeswoman Sarah Blane.
Engines 6 and 7, along with Trucks 6 and 7, responded to the scene. Gay and Robinson also provided manpower and equipment to assist firefighters.
Roughly 700 gallons of water were used to stop the fire before it reached the homes. No structures were damaged and no injuries were reported.
Engine 6 stayed on scene at Pakala to extinguish hot spots while remaining
personnel responded to
the other fire near Koke‘e State Park.
Firefighters at the Miloli‘i Ridge staging area said the flames were on both sides of the road in an area with no structures.
The cause of the fire is unknown but firefighters at the scene and a DLNR statement say it may have been caused by vehicles or an unauthorized camping fire.
“Summer weather will lead to more dry conditions, so we are asking the public to be fire-smart and help prevent wildfires by not making ground fires and being careful to ensure that camp stoves are correctly used,” said DLNR Chairperson William J. Aila Jr. in a statement.
According to Blane, firefighters from across the island assisted the state Division of Forestry and Wildlife in fighting the blaze on Monday.
Two KFD fire engines couldn’t squeeze down the narrow and rugged Hunting Unit H trail. So smaller vehicles and a rescue truck shuttled firefighters in and out of the area, and picked up water from the engines sitting nearby.
“Being that we are entering the dry season, and in light of recent events, we are asking the public to be cautious,” said Kaua’i Fire Chief Robert Westerman. “Everyone can assist in preventing wildfires and keeping our community safe.”
Fire prevention tips offered by the Kaua’i Fire Department include:
• Be sure cigarettes are extinguished before disposing.
• Never throw a cigarette out of a car window.
• Don’t park your vehicle on dry grass.
• Never leave an open fire unattended.
• Keep lighters and matches away from children.
• Tom LaVenture, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or by emailing tlaventure@thegardenisland.com.
