The Keauhou Ranch wildland fire more than doubled overnight and is now 3,205 acres — most of it within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Additional firefighters from the mainland and Hawaii have arrived and are assisting with suppression efforts, the national park said in a statement today.
The fire, which started Aug. 5 outside the park on Keauhou Ranch, continues to burn in several areas on Mauna Loa, has progressed close to the Kipuka Ki Special Ecological Area and is two miles north of Highway 11.
“We are focusing our suppression efforts on Kipuka Ki and are working carefully to back the fire up against a natural barrier of wide hardened lava flow so it doesn’t progress further downslope,” said Matt Desimone, HVNP fire management officer.
The fire is currently only five percent contained.
Cooperating agencies include Hawaii County, state Division of Forestry and Wildlife and volunteer firefighters. Six engines, a bulldozer, two helicopters and a water tender are working at the blaze. An additional 30-person National Parks Service hand crew arrives today.
Kipuka Ki is one of the rarest old-growth native forests of its kind in the world. It is comprised of tall ʻohiʻa, koa and manele trees that are essential for the survival of threatened and endangered native plant and animal species.
Strong, gusty winds and dry conditions at the 4,500- to 4,800-foot elevation have made the fire difficult to control with limited resources, and it continues to burn both upslope and downslope on Mauna Loa. The fire started on Keauhou Ranch and its cause is under investigation.
Mauna Loa Road and most of the park have been closed since May 11 because of hazardous seismic activity.
