A fire in a forest reserve above Laupahoehoe that started Wednesday afternoon was reported to have burned about 22 acres of pasture land and trees by 4 p.m. Thursday.
A fire in a forest reserve above Laupahoehoe that started Wednesday afternoon was reported to have burned about 22 acres of pasture land and trees by 4 p.m. Thursday.
The stubborn blaze located about nine miles upslope from the coast has caused no injuries or property damage, but is proving difficult to contain due to dry conditions and difficulty accessing the remote area, said acting Battalion Chief Matthias Kusch.
The fire is located in a open land area near Mana Road and its cause has not been determined, Kusch said.
Six firefighting units including a bulldozer and a county helicopter were sent to help battle the blaze but there is no water in the area for the chopper to drop on the fire, said Kusch. Efforts to extinguish the fire are “all mechanical, now,” he said.
Crews will be on the scene today with assistance of about 16 firefighters from the state Department of of Fish and Wildlife.