Old Saddle Road reopens as firefighters continue to douse hotspots

Old Saddle Road reopened to motorists Wednesday evening following a multi-day closure prompted by a brush fire that broke out this weekend in South Kohala.

Firefighters were still dousing hotspots in the 2,000-acre burn area when the road reopened, according to Hawaii County Civil Defense. The fire in that broke out Saturday afternoon in the Keamuku Maneuver Area was declared mostly contained Monday.

Firefighters from Pohakuloa Training Area, the Hawaii Fire Department, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade and state Department of Forestry and Wildlife battled the fire since it broke out Saturday afternoon in the Keamuku Maneuver Area.

The Army said firefighters were able to preserve the Girl Scout Camp at Kilohana, along with other critical habitat areas nearby.