Firefighters Extinguish 25-Acre Brush Fire in ‘Ele‘ele

Fire crews remained on scene for part of Sunday afternoon, June 5, to put out any flare-ups or hot spots after extinguishing a brush fire that began nearly 24 hours earlier in ‘Ele‘ele.

According to a news release from the Kaua‘i Fire Department, firefighters extinguished a brush fire that broke out shortly after 4 p.m. Saturday in a 25-acre area near Glass Beach. No injuries were reported and no structures were threatened.

Personnel with the Hanapēpē fire station, Tanker 1, Rescue 3, Air 1, the on-duty battalion chief and the area’s landowners responded to the incident.

According to a preliminary report, KFD personnel were dispatched at about 4:15 p.m. Saturday to the brush fire near a cemetery by Glass Beach in Port Allen, ‘Ele‘ele. Firefighters arrived at the scene, discovered 30-by-30 feet of brush on fire and controlled the west perimeter and spot fires. Because of the proximity and terrain, crews could not reach the fire’s head.

Rescue 3 and Tanker 1 assisted along the dirt road near the coffee fields. Along with Rescue 3, Tanker 1 and Air 1, crews initially focused their attention near the solar panels by the Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative area. Kaua‘i Coffee management and crews with Alexander and Baldwin were also on scene with a front loader and tanker to assist.

Air 1 and Rescue 3 personnel shifted their attention near the Camp 1 area until Air 1 left because of darkness. Crews continued looking for hot spots and monitored the area.

With most of the fire under control and away from structures, KFD personnel cleared the scene at about 9:50 p.m. Saturday. Security with Kaua‘i Coffee continued monitoring hots spots throughout the night, and Hanapēpē firefighters were in the area Sunday to extinguish additional flare-ups and hot spots. Firefighters left the scene shortly after 1 p.m. Sunday.

The cause of the fire is undetermined.