KAILUA-KONA — Fire crews continue to battle a brush fire in Volcanoes National Park that has seen little signs of containment.
The Keauhou Ranch fire, which ignited on Sunday, torched 3,205 acres as of Wednesday. While it started outside the park at Keauhou Ranch, National Park Service officials say, it continues to burn in several areas on Mauna Loa, creeping toward Kipuka Ki Special Ecological Area, which is 2 miles north of Route 11.
“We are focusing our suppression efforts on Kipuka Ki and are working carefully to back the fire up against a natural barrier of wide hardened lava flow so it doesn’t progress further downslope,” said Fire Management Officer Matt Desimone.
The blaze is currently 5 percent contained. While the cause is currently under investigation, Jessica Ferracane, NPS public affairs specialist, said it “certainly is human-caused,” suspecting repairs to a bulldozer as ignition source.
Additional firefighters from California and Hawaii have arrived to the scene to assist with suppression efforts, park officials confirmed Wednesday afternoon.
A blended Type III Incident Management Team is managing the fire, and is comprised of National Park Service and Hawaii Island Incident Management Team members. Cooperating agencies include Hawaii County, State Division of Forestry and Wildlife and volunteer firefighters. Six engines, a bulldozer, two helicopters and a water tender are being utilized to battle the blaze. An additional 30-person NPS hand crew arrived Wednesday.
Kipuka Ki, a Special Ecological Area, is one of the rarest old-growth native forests of its kind in the world, according to Park Service officials. It is comprised of tall ohia, koa and manele trees that are essential for the survival of threatened and endangered native plant and animal species.
“It would really be a shame if we lost that,” Ferracane said.
Strong, gusty winds and dry conditions at the 4,500- to 4,800-foot elevation have made the fire difficult to control with limited resources, and it continues to burn both upslope and downslope on Mauna Loa.
Mauna Loa Road and most of the park have been closed since May 11 due to hazardous seismic activity.
In West Hawaii, meanwhile, Hawaii County firefighters continue to monitor the Waikoloa brush fire that scorched 18,000 acres and forced road closures on Waikoloa Road and Route 190. The blaze was initially ignited on Aug. 1. The cause is unknown. As of Wednesday evening, the fire was contained and crews were watching tiny smoldering spots burning along 190 between mile markers 10-18.
A small brush fire sparked Sunday by the Green Sands subdivision has also been contained at approximately 155 acres. Crews are monitoring for hot spots.