ANAHOLA — An evening brush fire burned 25 acres along Kukuihale Road in Anahola on Monday. Local residents provided heavy equipment to assist Kauai Fire Department with clearing the scorched area. Aside from irritation from smoke inhalation, no major injuries
ANAHOLA — An evening brush fire burned 25 acres along Kukuihale Road in Anahola on Monday.
Local residents provided heavy equipment to assist Kauai Fire Department with clearing the scorched area. Aside from irritation from smoke inhalation, no major injuries were reported, according to a county news release.
No homes were damaged by the fire, but KFD reported that nearby homes could have sustained moderate smoke damage. The fire did damage a small wooden storage shed on a lot.
KFD personnel responded shortly after 8 p.m. Strong winds made it challenging to control flames of up to 20 feet high, the county stated in a release.
The blaze spread dangerously close to homes earlier in the evening in the area below Kukuihale Road and east of Pilipole Road.
Officers went door-to-door to be sure residents had made preparations in the event of a forced evacuation. Most residents had evacuated their homes voluntarily by 9 p.m.
Firefighters were able to push the fire back a safe distance from nearby structures and had the blaze confined and under control by 11 p.m. Local residents provided a bull dozer to assist in clearing the scorched perimeter so firefighters could gain access to the center of the blaze.
The on-duty battalion chief reported the fire was fully extinguished at 2:30 a.m. Tuesday.
The Kaiakea crew was back on scene Tuesday to confirm that the fire remains fully extinguished.
Fire inspectors said the cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
Personnel from the Kaiakea, Kapaa, Lihue, and Kalaheo fire stations assisted in the firefight, along with crews from Lihue Airport Crash Fire.
