4 p.m. update: Hawaii County Fire Department says the fire is contained, and Hualalai Road between Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway and Kuakini is open. However, firefighters will remain on the scene to monitor hotspots and continue to fight any flareups.
Hawaii County Police and Fire Departments are actively working a brush fire on Hualalai Road near the Hualalai Elderly Housing as of Friday afternoon, October 5. As of 1:35 p.m., Police Chief Harry Kubojiri said that several residents of the Hualalai Elderly Housing had been evacuated due to concerns from heavy smoke in the area, but were being allowed to return to their homes. They were never in danger from the fire. As of the last report, the fire had burned around 10 acres but Hawaii County Fire Department had the worst of it out and was on scene monitoring hot spots. Hawaii County Fire Department helicopters are also on scene making water drops. Hualalai Road between Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway and Kuakini Highway will remain closed until the fire vehicles and personnel have left. Fire crews will remain on scene to monitor hot spots.
The cause of the fire is not yet known.
