WAIMEA – Firefighters are responding to multiple brush fires that broke out in Waimea on Monday. The first fire occurred shortly before 11 a.m. and was deemed under control by 1:30 p.m. The blaze broke out along the Nonopahu Ridge,
WAIMEA – Firefighters are responding to multiple brush fires that broke out in Waimea on Monday.
The first fire occurred shortly before 11 a.m. and was deemed under control by 1:30 p.m. The blaze broke out along the Nonopahu Ridge, just east of the Waimea River, on a property owned by Gay & Robinson. Officials believe that the fire was ignited by sparks from a pickup truck that was being operated by an employee.
Air 1, Rescue 3 and crews from the Hanapepe and Waimea fire stations responded. Jack Harter provided a second helicopter to assist with water drops to the area, and the land owner provided water tankers and other heavy equipment to help gain control of the blaze.
Personnel from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) were also dispatched to the scene at the request of the Kauai Emergency Management Agency (KEMA), formerly known as the Kauai Civil Defense Agency.
Roughly 60 acres were scorched in the first fire and personnel remain at the scene to fully extinguish hot spots.
Firefighters are now responding to two separate and unrelated brush fires also in the Waimea area. At approximately 2:45 p.m., a blaze broke out along the coastline near Russian Fort. That fire is now under control.
Multiple units are now trying to gain control of a third brush first that broke out shortly after 3 p.m. near the first water tank along Waimea Canyon Drive. Motorists are asked to avoid the area.
The cause of those fires is not yet known.
Updates will be given as information becomes available.
