Hawai‘i County firefighters doing water drops on brush fire in Kona

Hawai‘i County firefighters are working to contain a brush fire on Friday, April 17, that is burning above the Hawai‘i Community College Palamanui campus.

The fire was initially reported around 11:40 a.m. As of 3:17 p.m., 20 to 25 firefighters were on scene and chopper crews were still conducting water drops on the blaze that has burned approximately 4 to 5 acres, according to Hawai‘i Fire Assistant Chief Chris Carvalho.

No evacuations have been ordered at this time. There are no road closures.

“There are no homes at risk right now, and it looks like it’s slowing down,” Carvalho said.

The assistant chief said the fire started small. The light winds and the green vegetation have kept flames from spreading.

Crews are actively trying to contain the blaze so they can monitor it.

More information will be provided as it becomes available.