KAILUA-KONA — A fire across 10 acres of brush makai of Queen Kaahumanu Highway shut down southbound lanes on that road and a stretch of Henry Street for part of Thursday afternoon.
No injuries or structural damage was reported as a result of the blaze, said West Hawaii Battalion Chief Brian Cushnie.
By 1:05 p.m., Hawaii Police Department officers were already redirecting traffic away from the southbound lanes of the highway between Palani Road and Henry Street. Police soon afterward shut down Henry Street from Queen Kaahumanu to Kuakini Highway, which backed up traffic through town most the afternoon.
In total, nine units from the Kailua, Keauhou and Makalei stations responded to the blaze, said Cushnie.
In addition, a Hawaii Fire Department helicopter also dropped water on the affected area.
At about 3:30 p.m., Cushnie said the fire was “pretty well-contained” and that a bulldozer in the area was cutting a fire break in the brush to protect structures around the site of the blaze.
The closed lanes of Queen Kaahumanu reopened shortly before 3 p.m., according to the Hawaii Police Department. Henry Street reopened at about 5:15 p.m.
Cushnie said there would likely remain some hot spots in the area after firefighters wrap up. People should avoid trekking into the area.
The battalion chief added that they don’t have a cause identified at this time.