9:30 PM: KAUMAKANI AND HANAPĒPĒ FIRE UPDATE; one lane of Kaumali‘i Hig
Published on July 15, 2024
ROAD UPDATE: Kaumuali‘i Highway, between Lele Road in Hanapēpē and Kaumakani near Aloha Sweet Delites, is now open for one lane of alternating traffic. Motorists are advised to drive with caution in the area as fire crews and partners continue to respond to the fire. For updates on road closures, call 808-241-1725.
EVACUATIONS: The evacuation notice for Kaumakani residents remains in place through tonight. Kaua‘i Police Department personnel completed door-to-door evacuations of over 200 homes.
KAUMAKANI: Fire officials have confirmed one structure in Kaumakani Camp was destroyed by the fire. It appears to have been a shed with no homes attached. No injuries were reported. Firefighters continue to actively extinguish hot spots around the residential area of Kaumakani Camp.
SHELTER INFO: Two shelters are currently open – one at Waimea High School and one at Hanapēpē Neighborhood Center. If you are west of the Makaweli Post Office road closure and need shelter, please head to Waimea High School cafeteria. If you are east of the Hanapēpē road closure and need shelter, please head to Hanapēpē Neighborhood Center. There are approximately 120 people located at Waimea, and approximately 30 in Hanapēpē.
FIRE RESPONSE: Firefighters and partners continue to respond to the brush fire in Kaumakani. As of this update, the fire has scorched an area estimated at 1,000 acres between Hanapēpē and Kaumakani. According to KFD personnel, 60% of the fires are contained at this time. Air assets have been suspended due to nightfall and will resume Tuesday morning. Ground crews will continue to fight the fires through the night.
HANAPĒPĒ: No evacuation orders are in place for the Hanapēpē Heights area.
KIUC INFO: Approximately 1,100 members are currently out as the members in Kekaha, Mana, Hanapēpē, Kaumakani, Pākalā, and Kokee were de-energized. Waimea will remain powered for the time being in order to support KVMH and the designated west side shelter. Members in Waimea are encouraged to conserve power to the greatest extent possible. Crews will be working through the night to replace damaged poles and lines. Once repairs are complete, KIUC will have to inspect all lines to ensure they can be safely re-energize.
WATER NOTICE: The Department of Water (DOW) has issued a water conservation notice for customers from Hanapēpē to Kekaha until further notice. Customers are advised to limit water use to essential needs only to avoid a water service outage.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH: DOH encourages impacted residents and visitors to take appropriate actions to protect against smoke exposure. Additional information to plan, prepare and protect yourself before, during and after a wildfire can be found at the American Lung Association’s website at: https://www.lung.org/clean-air/emergencies-and-natural-disasters/wildfires.
KPD DISPATCH: Kaua‘i Police Dispatch advises the community not to call 9-1-1 for updates. Only call for EMERGENCIES. Dispatchers are being inundated with too many calls.
EOC ACTIVATED: The Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency’s Emergency Operation Center remains fully activated.
Updates will be provided when more information is available.
According to a preliminary report, Kaua‘i Police Dispatch received a report of a brush fire west of Moi Road shortly before noon on Monday.
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