LIHU‘E — A fire destroyed an estimated 100 acres of pasture land Tuesday in Kalaheo, officials said. Four water tankers and a loader from Goodfellow Brothers and Kaua‘i Coffee Company provided support for Kaua‘i Fire Department firefighters from three stations
LIHU‘E — A fire destroyed an estimated 100 acres of pasture land Tuesday in Kalaheo, officials said.
Four water tankers and a loader from Goodfellow Brothers and Kaua‘i Coffee Company provided support for Kaua‘i Fire Department firefighters from three stations in battling the stubborn brush fire throughout the afternoon.
Ken D’Attilio of Inter-Island Helicopters, aboard Air-1, estimates that he made a bucket-drop per minute for around three hours, filling up at three separate reservoirs, before the fire was declared contained, he said.
“There was a house that was in danger’s way,” he said, likely referring to a Pu‘u Road residence.
No one was injured in the fire, a county news release says.
A backhoe from Kukuiolono Golf Course attempting to cut a fire break broke down and D’Attilio said he had to drench the backhoe a few times to keep it from being consumed by the fire that was moving erratically due to strong winds.
Some 24 firefighters along with Air-1 and civilians assisted in fighting the fire that broke out around 11:35 a.m. Tuesday.
It was deemed under control at 2:39 p.m., but Engine 5, Brush Truck 4 and Truck 4 were still at the scene putting out hotspots at press time.
D’Attilio canceled all of his afternoon tour flights to perform his firefighting duties, he said.
He and his crew, along with 18 county firefighters, state and federal support, had just spent much of last weekend battling a blaze that scorched 50 acres of forest in Waimea Canyon State Park on the Westside.
For some of the 10 new county recruits, the Kalaheo fire was the first real fire that they have had to fight, according to the news release.
• Paul C. Curtis, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@kauaipubco.com
