HFD Continues to Monitor West Hawai’i Brush Fire
Hawai’i County Fire Department fire fighters continue to work towards extinguishing a fire that broke out in the Hawai’i Community College Palamanui area of West Hawai’i Wednesday afternoon.
Batallion Chief Ty Medeiros said the fire was contained at about 11 p.m. last night and has burned a total of 250 acres, as of 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
The fire began at about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday mauka of Kamanu Street, causing the closure of the Kaiminani Street entrance to the Palamanui campus.
Authorities reopened the roadway Thursday morning.
No structures or buildings were reportedly damaged, and a 20-foot firebreak was bulldozed in the surrounding area. Two helicopters were used to assist in extinguishing the fire, but have since been returned to their home base.
Batallion Chief Medeiros said that a few hot spots in the area remain and continue to be monitored.
The chief stated that recall personnel will remain on scene throughout the night to ensure that the fire doesn’t flare up.
The cause of the fire remains unknown.