Posted by Naomi Cummings Perez on Facebook
There is a brush fire in the area of the Costco Industrial Avenue, that has closed Hina Lani Street between Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway and the new Ane Keohokalole Highway, which enters Hina Lani just above the County’s new affordable housing development. The fire is mauka of Kamanu Street, which is the street that runs above Costco. Deputy Chief Aaron Arbles said the two Hawaii County helicopters are doing water drops to get control of the fire, which had burned around 90 acres as of 9:15 p.m. They have bulldozers on the scene to cut fire breaks. Chief Arbles said the fire is above the Costco Industrial Area buildings, but the buildings are not in danger.
The Hawaii Red Cross temporarily opened an emergency shelter at West Hawaii Civic Center for residents who could not get to their homes. The Fire Department evacuated the Hawaii County affordable housing because of smoke, but Chief Aaron Arbles said at 7:35 p.m. that residents would be allowed to return. As of 8:30 p.m., the Red Cross closed the shelter.
Chief Arbles said the cause of the fire is unknown at this time. He said the focus is trying to contain the fire on the mauka side. He also said there so far were no injuries reported nor structure damage.
