UPDATE: 4 p.m.
Hawaii’s four counties and the State Emergency Operations Center were partially activated today to prepare for red flag weather, which due to low humidity and gusty winds may cause fires to spread rapidly and make their behavior more challenging to predict.
HI-EMA Administrator James Barros said in a statement, “With drought conditions in place statewide, we’re one bad spark away from a new wildfire, so we and our partners are on alert. The first responders and the counties are the front line of defense and we’re here to support them if they need it.”
Gov. Josh Green met with representatives of HI-EMA, the county emergency management agencies, the National Weather Service, the Hawaii National Guard and other key partners this morning as is standard before any serious hazard. Officials discussed resource deployment and pre-impact needs.
HI-EMA already was coordinating additional military fire-suppression aircraft to help fight the Mililani Mauka fire, also known as the Kipapa Ballroom Fire, which was reported 85% extinguished this morning. The fire, which has burned roughly 1,350 acres of land, so has not posed any hazard to communities. However, contingency plans are in place if higher winds increase the risk.
“The people of Hawaii have seen how quickly a wildfire can spread and the devastation it can bring – Maui is still coping with the consequences,” Barros said. “We want to assure everyone that we are keeping close watch, but we need your help to reduce risk.”
Meanwhile, the Honolulu Fire Department has 100% contained the wildfire that they were battling this afternoon near 66-434 Kamehameha Highway in Haleiwa. The fire apartment assigned trucks three times to the fire that was upgraded to a wildfire incident from a miscellaneous fire at 1:24 p.m.
The fire, which caused traffic and power disruptions, was reported under control at 2:21 p.m.
2 p.m.
The Mendocino Interagency Hotshot Crew and the Six Rivers wildfire Module continue to extinguish hot spots at the Mililani Mauka wildfire. They have now built one mile of fireline along the western edge of the fire perimeter to prevent future fire spread.
The fire, which has burned approximately 1,350 acres of land and has been 85% extinguished, continues to burn in a remote, mountainous area with steep, dangerous terrain. It is still approximately four miles from the Mililani Mauka community.
Meanwhile, HFD is battling a wildfire this afternoon near 66-434 Kamehameha Highway in Haleiwa. Honolulu police closed the highway in both directions at the Haleiwa Post Office around 1:30 p.m. In a tweet, Hawaiian Electric reported at 1:50 p.m. about 960 customers lost power in Haleiwa and crews were en route to fix powerlines.
HFD crews also remain at the scene of a wildfire at 47-435 Waihee Road in Kaneohe, which began just before noon today.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE
The wildfire above Mililani Mauka, which has burned about 1,350 acres, did not significantly spread overnight and is now 85% contained, Honolulu Fire Department officials said today.
The Mililani Mauka Incident Management Team resumed firefighting operations at 7:09 a.m. on the wildfire above Mililani Mauka, in a remote, mountainous area with steep, dangerous terrain.
HFD said the main portion of the active fire is on the southeast side of the burned area, about four miles from Mililani Mauka.
Efforts to battle the fire include: one HFD helicopter, one U.S. Army National Guard Blackhawk helicopter, one U.S. Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook aircraft, and two U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-contracted helicopters. The state Department of Forestry and Wildlife also is assisting.
No structures or homes have been threatened, and no evacuations have been ordered over the seven days that the fire burned the remote terrain.
HFD said the Mendocino Interagency Hotshot Crew and the Six Rivers wildfire Module are trying to prevent future fire spread toward Miliani Mauka by extinguishing hot spots and building a fireline along the western edge of the fire perimeter.
HFD said contingency plans are in place should winds increase and affect fire behavior.
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The Honolulu Fire Department today also upgraded a miscellaneous fire at 47-435 Waihee Road in Kaneohe at 11:56 a.m. to a wildfire and has assigned trucks to respond to the event.
Additionally, HFD worked on two wildfires earlier today in Wahiawa and Waianae that are now closed incidents. An incident at 65-1001 Kaukonahua Road in Wahiawa was opened at 10:45 a.m. and closed by 11:19 a.m. An incident at 690107-690500 Farrington Highway in Waianae was opened at 9:43 a.m. and closed at 11:45 a.m.
They also responded to a first-alarm building fire at 98-1214 Kaahumanu St. in Pearl City at 3:42 a.m. and closed the incident at 4:30 a.m.
A red flag warning is in effect from 10 a.m. today until 6 p.m. Monday for the leeward areas of all Hawaiian Islands and for Central Oahu due to strong trade winds and low humidity, according to the National Weather Service in Honolulu. On Kauai, the south shore areas such as Koloa, Poipu and Mahaulepu are affected. Read more.
HFD said as part of standard readiness all Oahu residents should make and practice a family evacuation plan and have an emergency supply kit assembled and ready to go.
The State of Hawaii Department of Health’s Clean Air Branch has been monitoring air quality. Air quality inquiries can be routed directly to the Clean Air Branch at (808) 586-4417.
HFD recommends that anyone affected by smoke shelter in place or a place with air conditioning. Those having difficulty breathing are advised to call 911 for immediate assistance. near
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