HomeMy WebLinkAboutCom_.No. 2021-09 Zendo Kern Letter Regarding Mana Road Fire JaSY OF pqw Kazuo S. K. L. Todd
Mitchell D. Roth moo. 4,
SIC Fire Chief
Lee E. LordEric H. Moller
Nlnnnging Director •+�qr ,�—�oP� Deputy Fire Chief
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HAWAII FIRE DEPARTMENT
25 Aupuni Street•Suite 2501•Hilo,Hawaii 96720
(808)932-2900•Fax(808)932-2928
October 20,2021
Mr.Zendo Kern,Planning Director
County of Hawaii Planning Department
101 Pauahi St.,Ste.3
Hilo,Hawaii 96720
Dear Mr.Kern,
RE: South Kohala Community Development Plan Action Committee Request for Information on Mand Road
Fire Emergency Evacuations
Fire Department accounting of event:On August 1St during the morning hours,the Fire Department in concert with
Civil Defense in the Emergency Operation Center set down watch out triggers based on expected wind and fire
conditions:
• Fire crossing highway 190(priority trigger)
• High winds 30+MPH(contributing trigger)
• Uncontrolled fire head,or multiple fingers/spot fires(contributing trigger)
• Excessive airborne embers(contributing trigger)
Primary of which was the fire crossing Hwy. 190,with no containment or control,and the pathway heading towards
Waikoloa. Should the triggers occur,the evacuation would of Waikoloa be considered based on prevailing
conditions and expected fire behavior.At 0830 hours,the Department of Public Works(DPW)was directed to open
the secondary egress road for possible evacuation should fire conditions warrant it.At 1000 hours,DPW reported
back that the road had been opened.At 1155 hours,reports from the field had verified that multiple triggers for
evacuation had been activated.At 1200 hours,I(Fire Chief Kazuo Todd)made the judgment call to evacuate
Waikoloa Community and relayed this information to Mayor Mitch Roth,which was then disseminated out to the
public through television,radio,and other forms of media.
The Fire Department has no other information regarding the evacuation.While it is the responsibility for the Fire
Department to make the call on when an evacuation due to fire is issued,we do not handle the logistics or the actual
evacuations,and cannot speak to the process,results,or issues.After the decision to evacuate Waikoloa was
initiated,the Fire Department returned to focusing on fire suppression and containment.
Should you have any questions or concerns,please let us know.
Respectfully Submitte
6�S�K.L.TODD
Fire Chief
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Hawai'i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.