HFD: Pahala Brush Fire Under Control

The Hawai’i County Fire Department responded to a brush fire Monday just before 12 p.m. in the Pahala area, makai of Highway 11. Upon arrival, the fire had burned over 20 acres of land and threatened to jump the highway in multiple spots.

During HFD’s efforts to put the fire out, strong trade winds fanned the flames which led to spreading. Due to limited visibility, authorities were forced to close Highway 11 in the area from the early afternoon and into the evening.

A total of 51 personnel responded to the fire, including 14 HFD fire fighters and 19 volunteer fire fighters. Throughout the day, officials worked to establish fire breaks, make helicopter water drops, and to use fire personnel and apparatus to limit the spread of the fire and protect homes along Alahaki Road.

HFD personnel contained the fire, which burned through vacant and pasture land, within Ninole Loop on the southeast side of Highway 11 and below Hilea Road on the northwest side of Route 11.

A total of 200 acres burned and the cause of the fire remains unknown.

Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park personnel joined HFD crews in monitoring the area overnight and into Tuesday for flare ups and to ensure the fire was contained within the area that had already burned.