LIHU‘E — A Kalaheo brushfire and report of an overturned kayak on Napali Coast kept county emergency responders busy Saturday.
At approximately 1 p.m. Saturday, firefighters were dispatched to a wildland fire near Alexander Dam in Kalaheo. No injuries or damaged structures were reported.
Air 1, the Kaua‘i Fire Department battalion chief and the landowners’ crews responded to the incident.
Kalaheo station irefighters received a report of white smoke originating near the dam. Because the fire was inaccessible via vehicle, Air 1 was deployed to survey the area and drop water on the fire.
Shortly after, the landowner and a crew of his personnel traversed the area to contain the fire. Air 1 performed airdrops for approximately three hours. The fire, about half an acre in size, was successfully extinguished.
The cause of the fire is undetermined.
Around the same time Saturday, first responders were dispatched for a watercraft rescue on the North Shore.
Firefighters from the Hanalei fire station and its Zodiac 1, Ocean Safety Bureau roving watercraft lifeguards, and officials with the U.S. Coast Guard responded to the incident.
According to a preliminary report, first responders received a report of an overturned kayak involving one adult and two children at Hanakapi‘ai Beach. The watercraft patrol proceeded to the area with Zodiac 1.
However, the party of three was not there. First responders proceeded to Kalalau Beach. On the way, first responders met up with a tour boat that confirmed the party was at an area near Kalalau Beach.
The party was located onshore in an area before Kalalau Beach. No injuries were reported, and the party successfully paddled back to Ke‘e Beach at Ke‘e State Park.
