Koke‘e Road fires under investigation

KOKE‘E — The cause of the several brush fires on Koke‘e Road Sunday remains under investigation.

Firefighters responded to multiple brush fires that broke out along Koke‘e Road throughout the day Sunday, starting in the early morning hours and ending in the evening.

There were no reports of injuries or structural damage related to the fires.

Roughly 50 acres were burned before the blaze could be contained by emergency crews around 5:20 p.m. Fire crews ran out of water in their engines throughout the course of the day fighting the fire and were forced to reload on several occasions.

Waimea firefighters along with the Kauai Fire Department were first on scene about 5 a.m. and began responding to the first fire, roughly a two-acre blaze. A second unit continued on to the next fire, about seven acres burning into the valley along the west side of Koke‘e Road.

Firefighters from the Hanapepe fire station arrived on scene and assisted with two other fires reported along the east side of Koke‘e Road.

Ground crews consisting of multiple trucks and engines, and a county water tender, were soon assisted by Rescue 3 personnel aboard Air 1 helicopter.

Personnel with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife soon joined the effort, and provided additional manpower and equipment, including two contracted helicopters to assist in water drops.

A total of 14 KFD units responded until the fires were under control and fully extinguished Sunday evening. The scene was turned over to DOFAW personnel for further monitoring.

Koke‘e Road, between Kekaha Road and Waimea Canyon Drive, was closed until about 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Waimea Canyon and Koke‘e State Park remained accessible via Waimea Canyon Drive.

Anyone with information is urged to call the KPD at 241-1711.