Mop-up operations continued Tuesday to extinguish a brush fire that consumed more than 1,000 acres after igniting Sunday afternoon near Kaalualu Bay in Ka‘u.
Hawaii Fire Department and volunteer personnel spent Tuesday dousing hot spots and flareups within the 1,022-acre burn area located off South Point Road, said HFD Battalion Chief Jerry Lum.
As of Tuesday, the fire was listed as under control, but not yet contained, Lum said.
Firefighters responded about 2:30 p.m. Sunday to a report of a brush fire near Kaalualu Bay that was being fanned by trade winds in a northwesterly direction toward South Point Road. Within 1.5 hours, the fire had grown to 250 acres.
By 10 p.m., however, firefighters assisted by favorable weather conditions were able to gain control over the fire, which had grown to 1,022 acres.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Firefighters will remain on the scene throughout the night to quash any flareups.