Homeless Camp Fire May Have Started Thursday Hualalai Blaze

File photo.

The Hawai’i County Fire Department responded to a brush fire in progress Thursday morning just after 10:30 a.m. in the area of Hualalai Road and Kuakini Highway.

HFD personnel say the fire had engulfed about 1.5 acres when crews arrived on scene. Winds were blowing in a westerly direction, heading mauka at about five miles per hour.

Multiple companies and a total of 29 fire crews, including five volunteer firefighters, battled the blaze.

The fire was contained at about 3 p.m. and HFD says the fire was extinguished just after 3:30 p.m.

Roadways in the area were closed for several hours late Thursday morning and into the early afternoon. The road re-opened just before 2:30 p.m.

It is possible that the fire was caused by a homeless camp fire, according to authorities.