2 fire personnel injured responding to wildfire

KAWAIHAE VILLAGE — Again, the pillar of smoke over Kawaihae was visible from 10 miles away Friday, flames consuming wildland and threatening homes. It was a mirror of the Aug. 8 fires that began in the same area and torched 3,000 acres.

The residents of Kawaihae Village had another immediate view of the progressing blaze, as several watched the varying size of the smoke column, the actions of the Fire Department’s water-dropping helicopters and efforts of ground-based firefighters.

The blaze was reported about 1:15 p.m. near mile marker 65 and burned about 150 to 175 acres of wildland shortly before 3 p.m., said Hawaii Fire Department West Hawaii Battalion Chief Joseph Farias.

The fight was undertaken by the Hawaii Fire Department, PTA Fire Department, Parker Ranch and volunteer firefighters. They were assisted with water drops by Chopper 2.

Two firefighters suffered injuries related to the fire, when a Hawaii County apparatus and a second vehicle collided. Farias declined to provide any additional information.

Ultimately, no homes within the Kawaihae Village area were threatened.

Farias said that conditions were favorable for fighting the fire thanks to overcast conditions and a decrease in wind speed. The wind was more variable in speed and direction than is common in the region, buffeting firefighters and watchers.

Kawaihae Road was closed at the intersections with Queen Kaahumanu Highway and Kohala Mountain Road because of the fire and the accident. Officers were staged farther south to have people turn around on Waikoloa Road, the closest east-west road available.