Updated at 7:53 p.m., Thursday, August 16, 2007
Evacuated residents from Big Isle brushfire return home
Advertiser Staff
Kamuela View Estates residents forced to evacuate due to a Big Island brushfire in the South Kohala District today were cleared to return home about four hours later.Troy Kindred, Big Island Civil Defense administrator, said residents in 40 houses on Mahua Street were evacuated at 3:40 p.m. due to the smoke hazard caused by what he described as a "runaway" brushfire on the ocean side of Kohala Mountain Road or Highway 250 near the 4-mile marker that started at 2:11 p.m.
Firefighters had cut fire breaks and smokey conditions had improved enough by 7:30 p.m. to allow residents to return home. A shelter had been set up at Waimea Community Center.
The fire had moved to within a quarter-mile of homes during the day but caused no property damage, said Kindred.
The Hawai'i County Fire Department suspects the brushfire may have been caused by down power lines.
By 5 p.m. today, the fire fueled by winds of 15-18 miles per hour moving northeast from Kohala Mountain Road toward Kawaihae Road, had burned about 160 acres, according to fire officials.
Seventeen county, eight military and eight volunteer firefighters were involved in the firefight today. Equipment being used included three helicopters and three bulldozers.
