Firefighters respond to multiple incidents Monday
Published on December 12, 2023
LĪHU‘E – Kaua‘i Fire Department first responders responded to multiple incidents on Monday.
The first incident involved a gas leak on Haleukana Steet in Puhi.
No injuries were reported.
Personnel with the Līhu‘e fire station, Hazmat 8, the on-duty Battalion Chief, and the Kaua‘i Police Department responded to the incident.
According to a preliminary report, KFD personnel received the first report at approximately 12:40 p.m. of a possible gas leak on Haleukana Street at Puhi Industrial Park. Crews arrived on scene shortly before 12:50 p.m. and discovered a vapor cloud emitting from a natural gas container.
First responders established a half-mile evacuation zone and evacuated businesses within the area with the assistance of KPD. Shortly after, AmeriGas Propane and Hawai‘i Gas representatives arrived and stopped the leak. Hazmat 8 later monitored the area until it was deemed safe.
The scene was cleared at approximately 2:25 p.m.
The second incident involved an injured hiker rescued on the Hanakapiai Falls Trail.
At approximately 4 p.m., firefighters responded to a report of a 75-year-old hiker from Michigan in distress.
Rescue 3 aboard Air 1 located the hiker approximately a half mile from the Hanakapiai landing zone. The hiker had signs of dehydration and a possible ankle injury.
The hiker was loaded onto Air 1 and transported to awaiting personnel from American Medical Response. He was treated by AMR personnel before being transported to Wilcox Medical Center.
The scene was cleared at approximately 5:45 p.m.
The final incident involved a Hanalei man in distress in waters off Kukui‘ula Harbor.
No injuries were reported.
According to a preliminary report, firefighters with the Kōloa fire station received a report of a kayaker in distress about 100 yards outside of Kōloa Landing in Po‘ipū shortly before 7:30 p.m. When firefighters arrived on scene, they could not locate the kayaker.
After confirming the location with the kayaker, first responders and personnel with the Ocean Safety Bureau relocated to Kukui‘ula Harbor. First responders made visual contact with the person via his dive light and towed him and his kayak to shore.
The scene was cleared at 8:35 p.m.
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