Update: No injuries reported following Anahola brush fire; cause unknown

8:30 a.m. county update on Aug. 24: The cause of the fire remains undetermined at this time. No injuries have been reported. However, the fire destroyed a storage container, causing an estimated $8,000 in damages to property and contents, according to officials with the County of Kauaʻi.

In the Saturday morning press release, county representatives reported that when firefighters arrived on scene, they discovered the fire had been on the hillside mauka of the post office. Air 1 and Air 2 were deployed since the fire was inaccessible via vehicle. Air 1 and Air 2 continued to drop water on the fire through sundown, stopping the spread on the southwest side of the blaze.

 With homeowners’ assistance, firefighters made their way to the head of the fire through a gate on Hokualele Road. Vehicular access was also improved with the assistance of an excavator, creating a road around the perimeter of the fire. This allowed crews with fire and public works to access the north and east end of the fire. In addition, the County tender and bulldozer created additional breaks for vehicle access. Crews continued and fought the fire until it was extinguished.

First responders and partners cleared the scene shortly before 2:55 a.m. N5 sensors were installed to detect flare-ups throughout the night.

Crews returned to the scene at first light to monitor hot spots and fully cleared the scene at 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 23.

1:50 p.m. county update on Aug. 23: Fire crews and partners have cleared the scene of the Anahola fire at approximately 11 a.m. on Aug. 23, according to County of Kauaʻi officials.

9:50 a.m. county update on Aug. 23: County of Kauaʻi officials say they Kaua‘i Fire Department firefighters continue to respond to a brush fire in Anahola, mauka of Kūhiō Highway, across the post office.

As stated in the county announcement, sensors were installed near the affected area overnight to detect flare-ups. Fire crews, assets, and partner agencies are on the scene today.

Crews with the Kaiakea Fire Station, Tender 1, Tender 2, Department of Public Works, private landowners, the on-duty Battalion Chief, and the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife are responding to the incident. Air 1 will be on standby in the event it is needed.  

The Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency continues to monitor and support the incident. 

The fire is 20% contained, according to fire officials. Fire is estimated at 10 to 15 acres. No injuries have been reported.

At this time, there are no road closures and no immediate threats to homes.

8:30 p.m. county update: The fire is 20% contained, according to fire officials. The brush fire is currently estimated at 10 to 15 acres. No injuries have been reported.

Original post: Emergency crews on Kauaʻi have been responding to a brush fire in Anahola since late this afternoon.

Officials with the County of Kauaʻi announced at 6:30 p.m. Thursday that the fire is currently six to ten acres and has not yet been contained.

County representatives first made the announcement in a 4:30 p.m. press release, stating a fire had started mauka (inland) of the Kūhiō Highway, across from the post office.

“Crews with the Kaiakea and the Kapa‘a fire stations, Rescue 3, Tender 1, Air 1, Air 2, Department of Public Works, private landowners, and the on-duty Battalion Chief are responding to the incident.

“The Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency is currently at level 2 activation and continues to monitor and support the incident,” county officials wrote in the latest update about the incident.

The county reports no homes or structures are currently threatened.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.