Big Island leeward residents are asked to be on high alert and take precautions as a Red Flag Warning is anticipated to take affect today around 10 a.m. and continue through Monday.
As of Saturday morning, Hawaii County has been under a Fire Weather Watch. The County’s Emergency Operation Center os being activated throughout the duration of the event.
The Fire Weather Watch issued by the National Weather Service covers all leeward areas of Hawaii Island, from North Kohala to Ka‘u and the interior communities. Conditions in these areas will lead to drier weather, significantly affecting Hawaii Island on Sunday and Monday.
A Red Flag Warning is issued when the combination of dry vegetation and weather conditions creates an extremely high fire risk.
The last Red Flag Warning was issued in August, spurring multiple fires in South Kohala and the devastating Maui wildfire.
Hawaii County highlights that these conditions are conducive to the rapid spread of wildfires, creating difficulties for containment.
Winds of 15 to 25 MPH with gusts of up to 40 MPH and dryer conditions to impact Hawaii Island are expected today and Monday.
“We’re asking our residents to protect each other by being cautious and remaining mindful in their actions,” said Mayor Mitch Roth. “We’ve seen these conditions lead to multiple fires along our leeward coast in the past, and we want to ensure we do all we can to prevent them to the best of our ability. These fires can potentially put our firefighters and communities at large in harm’s way. By remaining mindful and refraining from potentially risky behaviors, we can significantly reduce the chances of large brushfires this time around.”
In response to the Fire Weather Watch, the County is urging the following measures:
Potential Camping Permit Cancellation: All camping permits for Sunday within the affected Beach Parks have the potential to be cancelled. This includes Mahukona Beach Park, Spencer Beach Park, Kohanaiki Beach Park, Ho‘okena Beach Park, Punalu‘u Beach Park, and Whittington Beach Park. Campers will be notified promptly if conditions are conducive to cancellation.
Prohibition of Outdoor Burning: All outdoor burning will be strictly prohibited in North Kohala, South Kohala, North Kona, South Kona, and Ka‘u from 12 a.m. on Sunday, November 5, 2023, through 6 a.m. on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.
Prohibition of Outdoor Open Flame Activities: Outdoor activities involving open flames, such as outdoor cooking, welding, and grinding metal, will be prohibited from 12 a.m. on Sunday, November 5, 2023, through 6 a.m. on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.
Vehicle Parking Prohibition: Parking vehicles on dry grass after travel is prohibited from 12 a.m. on Sunday, November 5, 2023, through 6 a.m. on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.
Property Fire Safety Measures: Property owners are urged to secure outdoor items and implement necessary fire safety precautions on their premises.
Residents are also encouraged to visit the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization’s official website at https://www.hawaiiwildfire.org/home for valuable information on wildfire prevention and safety measures.