HFD Warns of Brush Fire Risk as Dry Conditions Approach

Screen capture from KHON2

We were honored to be a part of the media event that led to this news piece. Honolulu Fire Department offered great tips for preparing for what looks like a busy period of wildfires ahead.

From the Source:

“'You should keep your property well maintained,' said HFD spokesperson, Capt. David Jenkins. 'Keep anything combustible away. If it catches fire it shouldn’t be leaned up against your structure. Anything that can transfer the wild land fire to your home should be cleared away and put somewhere safe.'

Firefighters also say you should have a 30 foot buffer zone around your house and make sure to maintain a fire break.

Brush fires are a statewide problem and fire officials say the majority are started by people whether it’s an accident or intentional.

On Kauai authorities say there have been 70 brush fires since December all believed to be intentionally set.

Some tips for you to stay safe this season:

• Clear away any brush or high weeds at least 30 feet away from any structures. That brush or weeds could act as fuel for a fire.
• Make sure you keep a water course near your house.
• If you see smoke, call 911 immediately.
• If you are a smoker, do not discard lit cigarettes out of your vehicle."

Hawaii Told to Expect El Niño to Continue All Year

Credit - NCSU NC Climate

This next year could be a much busier year not just for hurricanes, but for wildfires in Hawaii. Here's why:

From the Source:

"Chu said El Nino could clear the path for summer hurricanes. The end of hurricane season in November will bring dryer conditions to the island, including parched landscapes and increased wildfire risk."

HFD Crews Respond to Overnight Flare Up of Makakilo Brush Fire

Another frightening close-call for Makakilo residents - a stark reminder of the importance of evacuating early and having a rehearsed preparedness plan.

From the Source:

Credit: Lynn Westlake

"A major brush fire that threatened homes in Makakilo Monday afternoon had been brought under control by Honolulu firefighters, but crews returned to the scene overnight to battle a flare up. 

The first calls about the fire were received around 3:15 p.m. on Monday. Images from the scene showed smoke and flames on the hillside along the westbound lanes of the freeway near the Makakilo offramp.

Police initially blocked the far right lane of the freeway in the westbound direction as crews battled the fire, but have since reopened the roads.

The Department of Emergency Management opened an emergency shelter at Makakilo Community Park for those forced to evacuate because of the fire. Evacuations were not mandatory according to a Honolulu Fire Department spokesperson.

'When the fire went to the third house, behind the third house, that's when I was like, we need to go, we need to go right now,' said Makakilo resident Wayne Richardson.

Honolulu police officers went door-to-door letting residents know about the shelter. Major Kurt Kendro says about 50 people showed up.

'A lot of families with animals, a lot of elderly people trying to get away from the smoke, but all voluntarily. The fire department knocked it down really quick,' said Kendro.

Fire officials said the blaze burned approximately 80 acres and damaged 100 feet of vinyl fencing. At one point, 18 companies and about 60 personnel were used to fight the fire.

'The terrain and the high winds did have contributions to how quickly the fire spread. The homes were located uphill downwind which made it a concern for us, those homes being in jeopardy,' said HFD Capt. David Jenkins.

Initial 2015 BioBlitz Results

We had the opportunity to be a part of this incredible event, as one of the outreach booths at the Cultural Festival. Find out more about what we did at the event.

From the Source:

"Student inventory. Photo credit: Chris Johns/National Geographic."

"Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park held the ninth of 10 annual BioBlitz events over the weekend. The events are hosted by National Geographic and the National Park Service and have spanned the entire country over the past decade. According to HVNP officials, the events are leading up the NPS’s centennial in 2016.

The 2015 event, which was a combined BioBlitz and Biodiversity & Cultural Festival, hosted more than 6,000 people including more than 850 school-aged children. During the event, more than 170 scientists and traditional Hawaiian practitioners came together to conduct a comprehensive inventory of the plants, insects, mammals, birds, and other species that inhabit HVNP. Officials say the program gathers a 'vivid snapshot of the unique plant and animal biodiversity in the park.'"

"'The BioBlitz and Biodiversity & Cultural Festival presented an incredible opportunity to connect the community with leading scientists, international sister parks, and cultural practitioners this weekend,' said park Superintendent Cindy Orlando. 'This even embodies our National Park Service centennial mission to encourage everyone to Find Your Park – literally – by exploring and understanding our vital connection to our natural world.'

Stubborn Brush Fire Near Lahainaluna Burns 7 Acres

View fullsize

"Fire near Lahainaluna. Photo by Kira Nakamura."

The need for more stringent enforcement of trash dumping and better waste management programs is highlighted by this fire in Maui. What makes trash dumping even a worse wildfire hazard is when it sits in dry gulches, where wildfires can really pick up due to winds and convection.

From the Source:

"A fire near Lahainaluna High School burned an estimated seven acres since it started on Saturday afternoon, May 16, 2015.

Maui Fire Services Officer Edward Taomoto said crews were primarily focusing on stubborn areas along the Kahoma Stream gulch where partially buried organic material, trash and abandoned vehicles were making the fire especially difficult to extinguish."

Wildfires on Mahalo Aina (Hawaii Public Radio)

We were featured on a recent Hawaii Public Radio show called Mahalo ʻAina! The show "is a 13-week series of reports designed to raise awareness of the many environmental, economic, social and cultural benefits provided by Hawaii's forests and the need for human responsibility in protecting and perpetuating these ecosystems."

Check out the 90-second vignette featuring wildfires and what HWMO is doing to prevent and prepare for them. Just scroll down to the 5th episode on the webpage.

From the Source:

"Wildfires are an issue for all islands in the state. The destruction caused by wildfires can potentially affect everything from native forests, watersheds, and agricultural production through to drinking water, cultural resources, and of course human safety.  The Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization is dedicated to controlling the wildfire threat."

"Wildfire. Photo credit: University of Hawai‘i College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources"

Two Small Brush Fires Doused Near Kapalua Ziplines

Wildfires in Western Maui are quite frequent, especially during the dry season. Learn more about what people's wildfires concerns and project ideas are in the area in our Western Maui CWPP.

From the Source: 

Maui Now graphic.

"Maui firefighters doused two small brush fires in West Maui on Wednesday afternoon, May 13, 2015.

The first was reported at 3:34 p.m. in the area of Kapalua Ziplines.

Nāpili firefighters arrived on scene at 3:51 p.m. to find a 30 by 150 foot strip of grass burning along a dirt road."

Firefighters Work to Extinguish Green Sands Blaze

Even when homes aren't damaged in a wildfire, residents can still be affected severely by wildfire from effects you may not normally think of. The latest scare in Kaʻū depleted people's ability to access drinking water.

From the Source:

"The Hawaii Fire Department continued Tuesday battling a Ka‘u brush fire outside Naalehu that destroyed a home in Green Sands subdivision.

The fire was about 80 percent contained as of Tuesday afternoon, according to Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira.

'We still have just one structure that was lost,' he said. 'And, fortunately, even that one structure lost was a vacant structure. So, the Red Cross is currently not in the position of having to provide shelter for anyone.'

However, about 24 of the homes in the neighborhood were on county-metered water and were fed by exposed plastic pipes that were melted by the fire.

'So, we have a number of residents down there without water,' he said.

Green Sands Fire '50 Percent' Contained

When it's time to evacuate, make sure to listen to Civil Defense messages for the correct evacuation routes and shelter locations. Our hearts go out to those who's homes are being threatened in the Green Sands area.

For more information on the proper evacuation protocol, check out the Ready, Set, Go! Hawaii Wildland Fire Action Guide.

From the Source:

"Hawai’i County Fire Department crews are battling a runaway brush fire in the Na’alehu Green Sands subdivision.

The fire is reportedly burning out of control. No estimate as to how many acres have burned is currently available.

Residents in the Green Sands subdivision have been asked to evacuate. The evacuation is due to high winds and heavy smoke conditions."

"Naalehu brush fire. Photo credit: Eric Fandrick."

Hawaii Island Brush Fire Still Out of Control - Residents Allowed to Return

Green Sands Subdivision residents were forced to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire driven by high winds. Wildfire season is here - we hope that you have everything you need to be Ready!

From the Source:

"Nearby residents are being allowed to return to their homes. They were evacuated earlier in the afternoon due to high winds and heavy smoke conditions. No one was reported hurt.

'Just smelling the smoke and it got worse and worse and all of a sudden I could see the smoke,' resident Patti Snyder told KHON2. “I thought, oh man, I better call the fire department back again and I told them where I thought it was and I said, well should I leave because I got ashes coming on my house!'"

Screen-capture from KHON2 video.

Waikoloa Breeze May 2015 - WVA Interior Lots and Wildfire Prep Day Flyer

View fullsize

Click to enlarge.

Weʻre working with Waikoloa Village to try innovative ways to reduce wildfire threats throughout the neighborhood. Also, check out our flyer for the upcoming Wildfire Prep Day event.

From the Source:

"Goat Dozers has been contracted to clear a fifty (50) ft. fire break around the perimeter of four (4) of the six (6) lots owned by WVA within the Village. Funds have been secured through a grant from Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization." - Roger Wehrsig, General Manager, Waikoloa Village Association