Correction
A previous version of this news release posted the incorrect date for Wednesday. The fire was first reported on Wednesday, Sept. 18.
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Firefighters, landowners extinguish brush fire in Wainhiha on Thursday
WAINIHA – On Thursday, Kaua‘i Fire Department firefighters and private landowners extinguished a 20-acre brush fire on a ridge above Wainiha Powerhouse Road.
No injuries and no damages to structures were reported.
Personnel with the Hanalei Fire Station, Air 1, Air 2, a Jack Harter helicopter, the on-duty Battalion Chief, private landowners, Rescue 3, Tanker 1, Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife, and the Kaua‘i Police Department responded to the incident.
Personnel with the Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency also monitored the fire and supported this response.
According to a preliminary report, first responders received a report from Kaua‘i Police Dispatch of a fire on Wainiha Powerhouse Road at 8:35 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 18.
When firefighters arrived on the scene, they discovered two separate fires on a ridge inaccessible to the KFD personnel.
Crews stationed at Camp Naue patrolled Wainiha Powerhouse Road and the Hā‘ena area overnight Wednesday to monitor the fire. The fires were burning away from homes, up mauka.
Although the smaller fire fizzled out overnight, crews continued to monitor the larger fire.
On Thursday morning, Sept. 19, Truck 1 personnel were stationed at the fire's eastern flank to protect homes on Wainiha Powerhouse Road. On the west flank, Engine 1 and Rescue 3 crews used UTVs to reach the top of the ridge to the head of the fire. Working in coordination with crews on the ridge, Air 1, Air 2, and a Jack Harter helicopter dropped water on the fire throughout the day. Fire crews atop the mountain and private landowners continued to extinguish hot spots until 11 p.m. Thursday.
Fire crews were posted overnight to keep watch and cleared the scene at 7 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 20.
The cause of the fire is undetermined.
 Wainiha fire taken from Air 1 on Sept. 19, 2024
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