Motorists escorted to safety after fire breaks out along South Point Road
First responders were dispatched at about 2:15 p.m. today to a fire on South Point Road in the Kaʻu, where they promptly initiated efforts to contain the blaze and ensure the safety of the public.
At the time of the fire, approximately 20 vehicles were located south of the fire’s path, according to statement this afternoon from the mayor’s office.
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“Due to the swift and coordinated actions of both police and fire personnel, all vehicles were safely escorted out of the area, and no injuries have been reported,” the statement said. “We are pleased to confirm that no structures or lives are currently at risk,”
The fire continues to pose a threat to livestock and pasturelands in the area.
Local ranchers are on-site and actively assisting fire crews in safeguarding these resources.
The fire has been successfully contained to the east of the highway, and firefighting efforts are now focused on preventing its spread to the west.
An estimate of the acreage affected is around 30 acres at this time. Assessments will continue as the situation progresses.
Sustained winds of 19 mph, with gusts of up to 24 mph, have presented challenges to firefighting operations. The Department of Public Works also is on site with tanker trucks to assist.
The county Emergency Operations Center has been partially activated to support the response and coordinate resources as necessary.
Civil Defense will continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide timely updates to the public as more information becomes available.
Residents are encouraged to visit the county’s hazard map at https://tinyurl.com/mt6bw93e and sign up for notifications through the Everbridge platform to receive the latest information directly.
