Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan: 15. Wildfires

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Chapter 15:Hazard Analysis—Wildfires Table 15-1. State of Hawaii annual wildfire summar•re ort Annual Wildfire Summary Report Calendar Year:2007 Total Acres Protected:3,360,000 Acres Burned By Cause: Cause No. I Acres Lightning 1 0.1 Campfire 5 40.1 Smoking 1 2,291 Debris burning 1 1 53.9 Arson 21 6,728.50 Equipment 9 255.6 Railroads 0 0 Children 0 0 Miscellaneous 99 20,222.30 TOTAL: 147 29,591.50 Acres burned by Size Class: Size Class No. Acres Class A-0.25 acres or less 36 7.1 Class B-0.26 to 9 acres 60 132.3 Class C- 10 to 99 acres 23 784 Class D- 100 to 299 acres 10 760 Class E-300 to 999 acres 81 3,228.10 Class F- 1000 to 4999 acres 9 18,180 Class G-5000 acres or more: 1 6,500 TOTAL 147 29,591.50 In August 2005, nearly 5,000 people were ordered to evacuate their homes and the only road connecting Waikoloa to the rest of the Big Island was closed as a brush fire blazed out of control. The fire charred more than 25,000 acres along the Kohala Coast on the west side of the island. Puako and Waialea have had a history of fire events that threatened life and property. A fire in 1987 consumed three houses and damaged several others. A fire in July, 2007 burned 25 acres adjacent to the entrance road into Puako. On October 28, 2007, nine fires were set in the Puako/Kawaihae/Waikoloa area. The community was evacuated as the largest of these fires, in excess of 1,000 acres, approached within a '/4 -mile of Puako Beach Drive. Only a fortuitous shift in wind prevented a huge loss of property (estimated value in excess of$500 million). Those people who refused to evacuate were also at risk. South Kona was recently reminded that upland wildfire is a significant threat. It took weeks for firefighters to extinguish the 1800 acre wildfire which began at Kealakekua Ranch on December 27, 2009. Grasses ignited by lightning were fueled by mature 'ohi'a and koa trees, hard woods which can burn for weeks. These long burning fuels and rhizomous grasses that can smolder and carry fire underground made the fire extremely challenging to put out. The rugged terrain at the 4,400-foot elevation where the fire broke out, along with lack of access to water, abundant fuel sources, dry conditions, and warm weather causing smoldering to reignite all combined to create difficult and hazardous conditions for the dozens of firefighter who worked 24-hour shifts to battle the blaze and protect the community. Smoke from the fire, trapped by Kona's temperature inversion layer, created health hazards for fire fighters and the entire South Kona community. 15-2 Hawaii County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan