Updated at 7:52 a.m., Sunday, April 1, 2007
Brush fire burns 50 acres near Wainiha on Kaua'i
Advertiser Staff
WAINIHA – Kaua'i firefighters worked late into the night battling a brush fire that broke out in the Wainiha area last evening.
According to Kaua'i Fire Department officials, a call came through shortly after 6 p.m. informing them of a fire that started on the side of the mountain on privately owned land mauka of Wainiha Powerhouse Road.
Firefighters and rescue specialists from the Hanalei, Kapa'a, and Lihu'e fire stations responded to the fire.
About an hour later, the fire department's helicopter arrived to assist the firefighters.
Acting Battalion Chief Bill Quinlan said that firefighters had to drag the hoses about half a mile up the mountain to fight the fire and had to use flashlights after night fell to help find their way up the slope.
"We also called in some off-duty firefighters to relieve the ones that have been fighting the fire for hours," said Quinlan.
As of about 10:30 last night, approximately 50 acres of brush had been singed.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
