“I just started to clean there in case of a fire,” Libero said, pointing to the northern edge of the cleared area below the units. “And, the fire came.”
Being prepared in advance of wildfire season can pay off in immense ways. In this case, creating a firebreak made a difference as the break was tested by this 20-acre fire on Monday. We urge all North Kona residents to come to our Community Wildfire Protection Plan Meetings to be a part of the discussion for instituting community projects such as these to help minimize the wildfire threat in the area.
From the Source:
"Firefighters Tuesday morning are mopping up a brush fire that consumed about 20 acres Monday afternoon in Kailua-Kona.
The fire, which broke out shortly before 3 p.m. in vacant land makai of Hualalai Elderly, is listed as under control and contained, according to Hawaii County Fire Department officials. The estimated 20-acre burn area stretches between the Kona Mazda Hyundai Subaru dealership and makai of the southern boundary of the elderly housing complex off of Hualalai Road...
Clash Libero, who has lived at Hualalai Elderly for nine years, said Monday’s fire was the third such incident he has witnessed since moving into the housing complex. According to West Hawaii Today archives, firefighters last doused brush fires in the vicinity of Hualalai Elderly in February and October of 2012. The October blaze consumed 8 acres while the February fire burned 35 acres.
Libero, who has previously assisted firefighters during fires near his home, said he used a garden house Monday to help douse flames that jumped the rock wall behind the complex and ignited some brush in an area that serves as a firebreak, as well as his garden."
Above: "A brush fire consumed about 20 acres Monday afternoon in Kailua-Kona before firefighters managed to get the blaze under control." Credit: Chelsea Jensen/West Hawaii Today