Additional wildfires flare up; Queen Kaahumanu Highway closed between 69-mile marker and Kawaihae Road
Hawaii County officials report that two additional fires have broken out in South Kohala. The fires are in addition to the ongoing blaze that has threatened five neighborhoods in the Kohala Ranch area along Akoni Pule Highway. The new flare-ups are located near the Mauna Kea and Hapuna Beach areas.
As a result of the new fires, Queen Kaahumanu Highway is closed between the 69-mile marker and the Kawaihae Road Junction. A total of four fires remain active, with three considered active threats.
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Hawaiʻi Fire Department (HFD) crews are on the scene and working to contain the fires. Evacuations may be necessary, and individuals in and around the area should remain on high alert.
Shelters remain open at Hisaoka Park in Kapaau and Waimea Community Center. Additional shelters may be opened based on need. Shelters are pet friendly, though owners are expected to bring supplies for their animals.
The Lalamilo fire in Waimea has been contained.
Acting Governor Sylvia Luke issued an emergency proclamation relating to wildfires in Maui and Hawaii counties that are being fueled by Hurricane Dora, churning far south of the islands.
The emergency proclamation authorizes several actions, including activation of the National Guard, authorizes appropriate actions by the director of the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency and the Administrator of Emergency Management, as well as the expenditure of state general revenue funds for relief of conditions created by Hurricane Dora.
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Hawaiʻi County officials are monitoring two active brushfires in North and South Kohala.
One is in North Kohala off Akoni Pule Highway (Highway 270) near Kohala Ranch. The other in South Kohala in Waimea. Fire personnel are on the scene, and smoke may be visible in these areas.
As a result of the brushfires, Akoni Pule Highway (Highway 270) is closed between the 6- and 7-mile markers until further notice. Kohala Mountain Road was previously closed due to fallen trees but is now open.
Due to the proximity of the fires to various structures, Hisaoka Gym in Kapaau and the Waimea Community Center in Waimea have opened as evacuation shelters. A mandatory evacuation was called for in the Kohala Ranch area, and at least two residents have taken shelter at Hisaoka Gymnasium.
The National Weather Service red flag warning for South Kohala, North and South Kona, and Ka‘u districts remains in effect through Wednesday.
A red flag warning means an increased chance of brush fires.
In addition, police report that some traffic signals in Waimea Town are out due to a power outage. Please use caution and treat those intersections as four-way stops.
Power outages in the area may affect communication streams to the public. To receive timely and essential alerts, the County urges residents to sign up for Everbridge messages from Civil Defense. This service allows individuals to receive critical notifications directly through their preferred communication channels, enabling them to make well-informed decisions in real-time. To register for this service, please visit https://member.everbridge.net/371914103062563/login.
