Mayor Praises Teamwork in Fighting Waimea Fire

Saddle Road fire photo sent in by Debbie Puanuanu. July 7, 2017.

Mayor Harry Kim on Friday, July 14, 2017, expressed his appreciation to federal, state and county agencies, and private entities for their response to the recent Waimea fire, which burned some 2,200 acres of pasture last week.

The effort to put out the July 7 brush fire involved the County of Hawai’i Fire Department, Hawai’i Police Department, the County of Hawai’i Department of Public Works, the State Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, State Highways Division, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the Pōhakuloa Training Area’s Fire Department.

Waimea residents swung into action, too.

Parker Ranch mobilized a water tanker to help fight the blaze.

Glenn Bertlemann and Kamuela Bertlemann brought in D-8 and D-6 bulldozers.

Rocket Fergerstrom brought in a D-9 bulldozer.

“This was a tremendous cooperative effort, where everybody came together to control, contain and put out the fire,” Mayor Kim said. “I cannot find words to express how much I appreciate everyone’s hard work, quick action and the tremendous team system of responding to this fire.”

The cause of the fire that destroyed one home and a vehicle is under investigation,

Some farm animals were also lost in the blaze.