Update: Brush fire in Kaumakani 100% contained; about 1,000 acres scorched

Update at 6:41 a.m. on Tuesday: The Department of Water lifted the conservation notice for Hanapēpē, Waimea and Kekaha customers as of approximately 6 a.m. Customers may now resume normal water use.

Kaua‘i Island Cooperative personnel completed repairs and inspections and restored power to members on the west side shortly after 3 a.m.

Update at 12:30 a.m. on Tuesday: The Kaumakani and Hanapēpē fire is 100% contained, and the evacuation notice for Kaumakani residents has been lifted.

Kaua‘i Fire Department will maintain a fire watch throughout the night. N5 sensors have been installed in Kaumakani and Hanapēpē Heights to detect flare-ups.

Re-assessment will be conducted by air and ground assets at first light. Approximately 1,000 acres between Hanapēpē and Kaumakani were scorched.

Kaumuali‘i Highway, between Lele Road in Hanapēpē and Kaumakani near Aloha Sweet Delites, is now open for one lane of alternating traffic. For updates on road closures, call 808-241-1725.

The American Red Cross shelters remain open.

Update at 12:09 a.m. on Tuesday: A fire burning between Hanapēpē and Kaumakani has scorched approximately 1,000 acres and is 60% contained as of Monday at 9:30 p.m. No injuries were reported.

Air assets have been suspended due to nightfall and will resume at daylight. Ground crews will continue to fight the fires through the night. Firefighters continue to actively extinguish hot spots around the residential area of Kaumakani Camp.

Approximately 150 people are at shelters set up at Waimea High School and Hanapēpē Neighborhood Center.

According to Kaua‘i County officials, the evacuation notice for Kaumakani residents remained in place through Monday night. Kaua‘i Police Department went door-to-door to evacuate residents in more than 200 homes. Fire officials confirmed a shed with no homes attached in Kaumakani Camp was consumed in the flames.

Kaumuali‘i Highway, between Lele Road in Hanapēpē and Kaumakani near Aloha Sweet Delites, is now open for one lane of alternating traffic. Motorists are advised to drive with caution in the area as fire crews and partners continue to respond to the fire.

Approximately 1,100 Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative members are currently without power in Kekaha, Mana, Hanapēpē, Kaumakani, Pākalā, and Kōkee as lines were de-energized. Waimea will remain powered for the time being to support KVMH and the designated west side shelter.

Members in Waimea are encouraged to conserve power to the greatest extent possible. Crews will be working through the night to replace damaged poles and lines.  Once repairs are complete, KIUC will have to inspect all lines to ensure they can be safely re-energized.

The Kaua‘i County Department of Water issued a water conservation notice for customers from Hanapēpē to Kekaha until further notice. Customers are advised to limit water use to essential needs only to avoid a water service outage.

For updates on road closures, call 808-241-1725. More information will be provided as it becomes available.

Update at 6:30 p.m.: Kaua‘i Island Utility Co-op has de-energized power lines serving portions of Hanapēpē, Kaumakani and Pākala in support of continued firefighting efforts connected to an ongoing wildfire.

As of 6:30 p.m., co-op members in Kekaha, Mana and Kōkeʻe will also be de-energized. Power for those members will not be restored until clearance is obtained from the Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency and Kaua‘i Fire Department.

Power is being preserved in Waimea in order to support Kaua‘i Veterans Memorial Hospital and the established emergency shelter at the Waimea Gym. Waimea residents are encouraged to conserve power to the greatest extent possible.

5:45 p.m. update: There are 378 Kaua‘i Island Utility Co-op members without power in Hanapēpē, Kaumakani and Pākala because of lines that have been de-energized to support firefighting efforts.

Power for those members will not be restored until clearance is obtained from the Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency and Kaua‘i Fire Department.

In addition, members on the West Side from Waimea to Mana and Kōkeʻe should be prepared for de-energization should the fire continue into the evening.

While solar and battery storage units are providing power to these areas, those sources will eventually deplete. Members in Waimea, Kekaha, Mana and Kōkeʻe are encouraged to conserve power in the meantime and be prepared for a prolonged outage.

It is important to note that once Kaua‘i Island Utility Co-op receives clearance to restore power, crews will need to inspect lines before power can be safely restored in the de-energized areas. Affected members should prepare for extended outages.

Here are some outage preparedness tips:

• Protect your appliances and sensitive equipment by using surge protectors.
• Turn off and unplug all unnecessary appliances or equipment.
• Keep a portable battery-powered radio and flashlights on hand with extra batteries.
• In case of loss of power, when the power comes back on and is steady, gradually plug in your appliances.

Updates will be posted to Kaua‘i Island Utility Co-op’s Facebook page as new information becomes available.

5 p.m. update: In response to the quickly moving brush fire on the West Side of Kaua‘i, Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke – serving as acting governor – signed the 15th Emergency Proclamation relating to wildfires today at 4:33 p.m.

Kaua‘i Fire Department firefighters, county personnel and private landowners began responding to the estimated 28-acre brush fire in Hanapēpē west of Moi Road shortly before noon today.

The proclamation authorizes the use of government resources to protect public health and safety, property and natural resources. It authorizes the adjutant general to activate the Hawai‘i National Guard to deploy state resources, as needed, to aid in fire suppression and evacuation.

It also suspends laws that might impede or delay the execution of emergency functions.

The county of Kaua‘i Department of Water has also issued a water conservation notice for customers from Hanapēpē to Kekaha until further notice. Customers are advised to limit water use to essential needs only to avoid a water service outage.

Water conservation measures include turning off appliances and fixtures that automatically draw water, such as ice machines and irrigation systems, and refraining from car washing and recreational water use.

An update will be provided when the conservation notice is lifted.

To monitor water service announcements online, click here.

4:30 p.m. update: “We have successfully evacuated Kaumakani camp,” a county of Kaua‘i spokesperson told Kaua‘i Now.

4 p.m. update: Kaua‘i Police Dispatch is asking the island community not to call 911 for updates, as dispatchers are being inundated with calls.

Due to the road closure on Kaumuali‘i Highway and the brush fire response, county of Kaua‘i Summer Fun staff will remain at their Kekaha, Kalāheo and Hanapēpē locations with participants until the highway reopens.

The Kaua‘i Bus service was evacuating Kekaha residents near Aloha Sweet Delites, according to county officials. The small neighborhood contains 302 households with 672 residents, according to 2020 US Census data.

The Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative has de-energized lines in Hanapēpē and Kaumakani due to the brush fire. The rest of the West Side is being powered by other generation sources.

“There is no timeline for restoration of power for Hanapēpē and Kaumakani,” a KIUC spokesperson said. “Mahalo for your patience and cooperation.”

Xavier Machado, of JP’s Pizza in Kaumakani, evacuated west to his home in Kekaha.

“We are safe, we were pushed out of Kaumakani from the police and we couldn’t stay any longer,” Xavier Machado said. “Flames were about 1,000 yards away but the wind is blowing south west towards us.”

Xavier Machado’s father and business partner, Chad Machado, said firefighters responded to the scene very quickly.

“[They] brought in the tractors which is probably the most important tool they have,” he said. “Like the old days cane fire was controlled with the tractors and brave workers.”

3:35 p.m. update: County of Kaua‘i officials report that some residents were notified of a flash flood warning – rather than a brush fire – today.

“To clarify, there is no flash flood warning and Kaumakani residents are currently being evacuated due to a fast-moving brush fire in the area,” county officials said in a statement.

3:30 p.m. update: The Department of Education has opened a public shelter at Waimea High School for Kaumakani residents.

The Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative is de-energizing its transmission lines from Kaumakani to Mana due to the fire in Hanapēpē. All members served by those lines will be without power until further notice.

2:50 p.m. update: Area residents in Kaumakani are advised to evacuate the area immediately due a fast-moving brush fire.

Kaumuali‘i Highway is closed from Lele Road in Hanapēpē to Kaumakani near Aloha Sweet Delites.

Firefighters and partners continue to respond to this fire.

Updates will be provided when more information is available.

Original post: Kaua‘i Fire Department firefighters, county personnel and private landowners are currently responding to an estimated 28-acre brush fire in Hanapēpē west of Moi Road.

At this time, there are no reports of threats to housing or road closures. According to fire officials, the fire is moving west, away from the residential neighborhood.

Area residents are advised to monitor local media for updates.

Firefighters with the Hanapēpē, Kalāheo and Waimea fire stations, Tanker 1, Air 1, Air 2, the Department of Public Works, Gay and Robison with a water tanker, and a private contractor with a dozer are responding to this incident.

Personnel with the Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency are also monitoring the fire and supporting this response.

According to a preliminary report, Kaua‘i Police Dispatch received a report of a brush fire west of Moi Road shortly before noon on Monday.

Updates will be provided when more information becomes available.