Fire burns 60 acres

WAIMEA — Firefighters continued to work through the night to manage a large brush fire that broke out near Waimea Canyon Road Monday afternoon, according to a Tuesday morning release from the County of Kauai.

The fire has moved west overnight, but continues to remain up mauka. No homes or structures are threatened, according to County of Kaua’i.

Firefighters responded to multiple brush fires in Waimea Monday, one that burned 60 acres.

The first fire occurred shortly before 11 a.m. and was deemed under control by 1:30 p.m. It 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 landowner 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 also responded to two separate and unrelated brush fires also in the Waimea area. About 2:45 p.m., a blaze broke out along the coastline near Russian Fort. It was under control by 4 p.m.

Multiple units were also working to contain a third brush first that broke out shortly after 3 p.m. near the first water tank along Waimea Canyon Drive.

The cause of those fires is under investigation.