Mamalahoa Highway (Route 190) remains closed Tuesday morning as firefighters continue to battle a 500-acre brush fire in South Kohala.
Mamalahoa Highway (Route 190) remains closed Tuesday morning as firefighters continue to battle a 500-acre brush fire in South Kohala.
Some 14 units comprising Hawaii County, volunteer, state and federal firefighters as well as one of the county’s helicopters are working to douse the blaze, which broke out Monday afternoon mauka of mile marker 14, said Hawaii County Fire Department Special Operations Battalion Chief Gerald Kosaki. The 500-acre blaze is listed as under control but not yet contained. No structures are threatened.
Detours are as follows: Northbound traffic is being detoured at Kaiminani Drive to Queen Kaahumanu Highway in Kona. Southbound traffic is being detoured at the Old Saddle Road and at Waikoloa Road. Traffic headed westbound on the new Daniel K. Inouye Highway is being detoured in the Waikii area to the Old Saddle Road.
Police expect the road closure to last until noon. The highway was closed shortly after the fire was reported.