NEWS UPDATES
(EDITOR's Note: According to Windy.com, 4PM Port Allen temperature is 85F and trade winds are 21kts gusting to 28kts coming out of the East.)
from KIUC, July 15, 2024
UPDATE 3:45 pm: KIUC has de-energized lines in Hanapepe and Kaumakani due to the brushfire. The rest of the west side is being powered by other generation sources. There is no timeline for restoration of power for Hanapepe and Kaumakani. Mahalo for your patience and cooperation.
UPDATE 3:21 pm: KIUC is de-energizing its transmission lines from Kaumakani to Mana due to the fire in Hanapepe. Members served by those lines may be without power until further notice. We appreciate your patience and will update this post as more information becomes available.
ALERT: KIUC is deenergizing lines feeding members in Kaumakani as a precaution due to the fire in the area. We will keep you posted here on any additional actions taken. Mahalo for your patience and please follow County of Kauai Facebook posts for general guidance related to the Hanapepe fire.
from Kauai EMA July 15, 2024
9:30 PM: KAUMAKANI AND HANAPĒPĒ FIRE UPDATE; one lane of Kaumuali‘i Highway now open
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/.../emergencies-and.../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.
* * * * *
4:10 PM FIRE UPDATE:
KIUC UPDATE: The Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative announced that it is de-energizing its transmission lines from Kaumakani to Mānā due to the fire in Hanapēpē. All members served by those lines will be without power until further notice.
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.
County of Kaua‘i Summer Fun Notice: Due to a road closure on Kaumuali‘i Highway and the brush fire response, Summer Fun staff will continue to be at the Kekaha, Kalāheo, and Hanapēpē locations with the participants until the highway reopens.
SHELTER INFO: The Department of Education has opened a public shelter at Waimea High School for Kaumakani residents.
Kaua‘i Bus: The Kaua‘i Bus were evacuating residents near Aloha Sweet Delites.
Area residents in Kaumakani are advised to evacuate the area immediately due a fast-moving brush fire.
Kaumuali‘i Highway is closed from Lele Road in Hanapēpē to Kaumakani near Aloha Sweet Delites.
Firefighters and partners continue to respond to this fire.
Updates will be provided when more information is available.
* * * * *
3:25 PM UPDATE: Evacuation shelter open for Kaumakani residents at Waimea High School
The Department of Education has opened a public shelter at Waimea High School for Kaumakani residents.
Area residents in Kaumakani are advised to evacuate the area immediately due a fast-moving brush fire.
Kaumuali‘i Highway is closed from Lele Road in Hanapēpē to Kaumakani near Aloha Sweet Delites.
Firefighters and partners continue to respond to this fire.
Updates will be provided when more information is available.
---
2:50 PM UPDATE: Evacuation notice alerted for residents in Kaumakani; Kaumuali‘i Highway to be closed from Lele Road in Hanapēpē to Kaumakani
Area residents in Kaumakani are advised to evacuate immediately due to a fast-moving brush fire.
Kaumuali‘i Highway is closed from Lele Road in Hanapēpē to Kaumakani near Aloha Sweet Delites.
Firefighters and partners continue to respond to this fire.
Updates will be provided when more information is available.
---
1:30 PM UPDATE: Firefighters responding to brush fire in Hanapēpē
HANAPĒPĒ – Kaua‘i Fire Department firefighters, County personnel, and private landowners are currently responding to an estimated 28-acre brush fire in Hanapēpē west of Moi Road.
At this time, there are no reports of threats to housing or road closures. According to fire officials, the fire is moving west, away from the residential neighborhood.
Area residents are advised to monitor local media for updates.
Firefighters with the Hanapēpē, Kalāheo, and Waimea fire stations, Tanker 1, Air 1, Air 2, the Department of Public Works, Gay and Robison with a water tanker, and a private contractor with a dozer are responding to this incident.
Personnel with the Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency are also monitoring the fire and supporting this response.
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.
Updates will be provided when more information becomes available.
* * * * *
FIFTEENTH EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION ISSUED RELATING TO WILDFIRES
Amended EP to Aid Rapidly Moving Brush Fire in Hanapēpē, Kauaʻi
News release from Office of the Governor, July 15, 2024
HONOLULU — In response to a quickly moving brush fire in Hanapēpē, Kauaʻi, Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke, serving as Acting Governor, signed the Fifteenth Emergency Proclamation (EP) relating to wildfires today at 4:33 p.m.
Kaua‘i Fire Department firefighters, county personnel and private landowners began responding to an estimated 28-acre brush fire in Hanapēpē west of Moi Road shortly before noon today.
This proclamation authorizes the use of government resources to protect public health and safety, property and natural resources. It authorizes the Adjutant General to activate the Hawai‘i National Guard to deploy state resources, as needed, to aid in fire suppression and evacuation.
It also suspends laws that might impede or delay the execution of emergency functions.
A copy of the executed EP is linked and is posted on the Emergency Proclamations page on the Governor’s website.
PDF: FIFTEENTH PROCLAMATION RELATING TO WILDFIRES
]