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C O U NT Y O F KAU A‘I
BERNARD P. CARVALHO JR.
Mayor
WALLACE G. REZENTES JR.
Managing Director
KAUA‘I FIRE DEPARTMENT
News Release
For Immediate Release: May 15, 2017
ROBERT WESTERMAN, CHIEF
Tel (808) 241-4980
Fax (808) 241-6508
Firefighters responding to three brush fires in Waimea;
Two fires under control and one still in progress
WAIMEA – Firefighters are responding to multiple brush fires that broke out in Waimea
on Monday.
The first fire occurred shortly before 11 a.m. and was deemed under control by 1:30 p.m.
The blaze broke out along the Nonopahu Ridge, just east of the Waimea River, on a property
owned by Gay & Robinson. Officials believe that the fire was ignited by sparks from a pickup
truck that was being operated by an employee.
Air 1, Rescue 3 and crews from the Hanapēpē and Waimea fire stations responded.
Jack Harter provided a second helicopter to assist with water drops to the area, and the land
owner provided water tankers and other heavy equipment to help gain control of the blaze.
Personnel from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and
Wildlife (DOFAW) were also dispatched to the scene at the request of the Kaua‘i Emergency
Management Agency (KEMA), formerly known as the Kaua‘i Civil Defense Agency.
Roughly 60 acres were scorched in the first fire and personnel remain at the scene to
fully extinguish hot spots.
Firefighters are now responding to two separate and unrelated brush fires also in the
Waimea area. At approximately 2:45 p.m., a blaze broke out along the coastline near Russian
Fort. That fire is now under control.
Multiple units are still trying to gain control of a third brush fire that broke out shortly after
3 p.m. near the first water tank along Waimea Canyon Drive. Motorists are asked to avoid the
area.
The cause of those fires is not yet known.
Updates will be given as information becomes available.
Above Photo: Roughly 60 acres of Gay & Robinson property were scorched after a brush fire broke out
Monday morning in Waimea.
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