NR 12-17-24 (Firefighters extinguish brush fire, rescue injured hiker on Monday)

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DEREK S.K. KAWAKAMI, MAYOR
REIKO MATSUYAMA, MANAGING DIRECTOR

News Release

For Immediate Release: December 17, 2024

Firefighters extinguish brush fire, rescue injured hiker on Monday

On Monday, Dec. 16, Kaua‘i Fire Department firefighters extinguished a brush fire in Pākalā and rescued an injured hiker in Kōke‘e.

According to a preliminary report, KFD personnel responded to a brush fire along Kaumuali‘i Highway by mile-marker 21.5, near the Pākalā surf break, shortly before 2:35 p.m., on Monday.

No injuries and no damages to structures were reported.

Personnel from the Hanapēpē Fire Station, private landowners, the Kaua‘i Police Department, and the on-duty Battalion Chief responded to the incident.

Personnel with the Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency also monitored the fire and were on standby for support.

 When firefighters arrived on scene, they discovered a brush fire on the mauka side of the highway. With the assistance of private landowners, the 300-by-200-foot fire was contained at approximately 3:10 p.m. and extinguished shortly after.

The cause of the fire was deemed undetermined.

The Kaua‘i Police Department closed the westbound lane of Kaumuali‘i Highway for nearly 30 minutes to allow crews to battle the blaze.

The scene was cleared at approximately 4:10 p.m.

While crews were battling the fire, firefighters with the Waimea Fire Station responded to a call of an injured hiker at Kōke‘e at 2:25 p.m.

According to a preliminary report, crews arrived on scene at the Waimea Canyon Trail and discovered a 61-year-old male Arizona visitor with an apparent ankle injury. The visitor was extricated via stokes litter and wheel to awaiting medics from American Medical Response.

AMR personnel continued medical treatment on the Arizona man before transporting him to Kaua‘i Memorial Veterans Hospital.

The scene was cleared shortly after 4:10 p.m.

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