Fire breaks out on Ahukini Road

LIHU‘E — The county’s Lihu‘e refuse transfer station, and the Reynold’s Recycling program in the Resource Center were closed after 2 p.m. due to a fire that broke out at the former papaya deinfestation facility on Ahukini Road.

The area was also evacuated due to safety concerns from the fire that billowed black smoke that were blown toward the Ahukini Pier park by the Kona winds blowing in the 15-knot range from the southeast.

In addition to Kaua‘i Fire Department responding to the alarm, the Lihu‘e Airport Crash Fire units, Securitas, and the state’s Lihu‘e Airport maintenance people assisted at the scene.

Ahukini Road near Mokulele Loop was closed during the fire extinguishing operation. The Kaua‘i Veterans Memorial Highway, formerly known as Kapule Highway, was kept open, prompting a radio station to plead for no more calls about the fire to the 911 emergency phone number.

The county reported that the fire does not pose a risk to nearby structures, or homes. The Department of Public Works has set up a perimeter around the structure for the added safety of the public.

There were no reported injuries, and due to its ongoing nature at press time, no other details were available.