Crews Battle 10 Acre Brush Fire in Lahaina

Wildfire season continues to cause headaches in West Maui. Mahalo to all of the firefighters who have kept communities safe and sound.

It's important to do you part to help assist firefighters, as well, by following the Ready, Set, Go! program guidelines.

From the Source: 

"A 10 acre brush fire in West Maui was called 100% contained by 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2014.

Fire officials said crews remained on scene this morning putting out hot spots and conducting mopup operations.

Maui Fire Services Chief Lee Mainaga said there were no injuries and no dollar loss reported. The cause of the fire, he said, is undetermined.

The fire was first reported at around 3:49 p.m. on Tuesday in an area of brush above the Honoapiʻilani Highway and Keawe Street."

Above: "Lahaina brush fire, Sept. 23, 2014." Credit - Bryan Dickson

Explosive Fire Growth Dumps Smoke into Reno Area

"Although a wildfire may be burning miles away and you live in a cityscape, chances are, you could still be impacted by the wildfire. The most direct effect is smoke. 

To decrease your risk from wildfire smoke, check local air quality reports (EPA's AQI, for example), keep windows and doors closed, stay well-hydrated, limit outdoor activities, and if necessary, wear a "N95" mask. Regular dust masks won't protect your lungs from the small particles that stem from a wildfire. Also, if you wear contact lenses, switch to eyeglasses.

From the Source: 

"The King Fire that has sent smoke into the Truckee Meadows all week has blown up overnight to an estimated 70,944 acres.

The size of the fire combined with the winds not dying down as expected contributed to Truckee Meadows air quality reaching a level of very unhealthy, said National Weather Service meteorologist Chris Smallcomb."

Above: "Setting sun viewed through smoke as it is starting to blow into Reno from the west on Wednesday evening. The smoke is from the King Fire in California on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014." Credit - Terry Dee

Racing Wildfire Engulfs Homes in California Town

"A mere 10 minutes later, the wildfire driven by fierce winds raced through their neighborhood, missing them by three houses and torching a roof across the street."

Given the right conditions, a wildfire can switch gears and head right towards your community within minutes. That's why it's best to be READY far in advance of wildfire season by creating defensible space around your home, fire-proofing your home, and creating/rehearsing an evacuation plan. 

From the Source: 

"Fire crews aided by calmer winds and aircraft knocked down a wildfire Tuesday that damaged or destroyed 100 homes and a church and forced more than 1,000 people to flee a small town near the Oregon border.

As crews put out remaining embers, the people of Weed wandered through scorched neighborhoods covered in pink fire retardant had been dropped by firefighting airplanes.

Some homes were burned to the ground, with only chimneys left standing. Broken water pipes spurted over the blackened landscape. The remnants of the Holy Family Catholic Church were still smoking, marked by twisted metal girders lying on the ground.

The fast-moving blaze, which began Monday, was among nearly a dozen wildfires burning in California that have been exacerbated by the state's third straight year of drought. The tinder-dry conditions have sent firefighters scrambling from blaze to blaze, almost nonstop." 

Article link no longer available.

Above: "A jet aerial tanker drops its load of fire retardant on a fire near Pollack Pines, Calif., Monday, Sept. 15, 2014. The fire, which started Sunday has consumed more than 3,000 acres and forced the evacuation of dozens of homes." Credit - Rich Pedroncelli/AP Photo

Another Brush Fire Breaks Out in Makakilo (VIDEO)

Roadside ignitions are a common occurrence in Hawaii. 

Check out this video of yet another wildfire in Makakilo.

Remember, stay as far from dry grass when you idle or park your car on the side of the road. 

From the Source: 

"Firefighters battled yet another brushfire in Makakilo Wednesday, this time near the H-1 Freeway.

Viewer Tony Lalich shot video while traveling west-bound. Flames could be seen close to the road.

The Honolulu Fire Department said the alarm came in at 9:42 a.m. and the fire was fully contained as of 11:15 a.m.

Nine companies and 30 personnel responded. Crews remain on scene."

Above: Screen shot from KHON2.

Maui Crews Battle 40-60 Acre Brush Fire in Puukolii

Mahalo to the speedy response of our firefighters. Remember, it's wildfire season - make sure you have at least two ways out of every room in your house and to map them out on paper!

From the Source: 

"Maui fire crews are working to douse a brush fire reported mauka of the Honoapiʻilani Highway in the area of Puʻukoliʻi in West Maui.
The fire was reported at around 12 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014.

Fire crews say air units are on scene conducting water drops and ground crews are dealing with windy conditions in the area."

Above: "Puʻukoliʻi fire, 9/9/14." Credit - Lada Murphy

Brush Fire in Paia Forces Closure of Baldwin Avenue

Mahalo to our firefighters who have responded to not one, but two brush fires in West Maui today!

From the Source: 

"Baldwin Avenue in Pāʻia remains closed between Holy Rosary Church and the Pāʻia Gym due to a brush fire reported at 1:47 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2014.
As of 3 p.m., there were two separate fires burning in the area–one along Baldwin Avenue that was 3-5 acres in size and 75% contained; and another in a gulch on HC&S land that was being handled separately."

"The road is closed around the Pāʻia Gym, so parents are advised to pickup their child as they are able.  Sports at the school have been cancelled for the afternoon.

In order to access students for pickup parents may have to temporarily go to Hāliʻimaile Avenue and come down Baldwin Avenue.  The road closure is temporary, but remained in place as of 3 p.m."

Above: "Baldwin Avenue brush fire, 9/3/14." Credit - Tara Dugan

Reducing Wildfire Risk to Communities

Headwaters Economics just released a white paper outlining ways to address the rising costs and risks associated with fighting fires in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI).

Researchers at Headwaters Economics have proposed solutions that involve local, administrative, and legislative authorities in controlling the "pace, scale, and pattern of future home building in the not-yet developed portion of the WUI". HWMO will continue to work with our agency, community, and decision-maker partners on many of the solutions published by Headwaters Economics:

From the Source: 

"Solutions proposed by Headwaters Economics to address WUI issues -
 

• Improve integration of wildfire mitigation plans into county comprehensive land use plans
• Disclose fire risk to potential home buyers
• Create powerful incentives for improved local land use planning
• Shift more fire suppression responsibility to local governments
• Provide technical and financial assistance for land use planning to local governments
• Buy land or development rights on the most dangerous areas
• Improve firefighter safety through improved public education and active participation in county land use planning
• Map fire risk using national standards, with incentives for added detail by local governments

 
Visit the website, read the paper, and/or listen to the interview with Montana Public Radio."