HomeMy WebLinkAboutMulti-Hazard Mitigation Plan: 15. Wildfires CIVIL DEFENSE AGENCY
COUNTY OF HAWAII
920 ULULANI STREET HILO,HAWAII 96720
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15. Wildfires
Chapter 15:Hazard Analysis—Wildfires
CHAPTER 15 - WILDFIRES
15.1 Description of Hazard
Wildfires are becoming known as "wildland" fires, defined as any uncontrolled non-
structural fire in a wild area. On this island, wildfires range from moderate size grass fires on
ranch land to major scrub ohia fires in the Volcanos National Park. Approximately 1.6
million of the island's 2.6 million acre land area is listed as forested while a large but
unstated amount is in pasture and brush; areas on the mountains above the tree line are bare.
The County fire department handles most of the fires, sometimes with assistance from the
forestry division of the State Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Federal,
and landowner crews. Occasionally,there are extensive fires in the National Park which have
required fire crews flown in from the mainland to extinguish them.
For wildfire and rural use, the Fire Department is equipped with ten tank trucks deployed
around the island which have a total capacity of 13,850 gallons. In addition, they have ac-
quired two special "brush" trucks for wildfire use. They operate a rescue helicopter and an
ambulance helicopter which can dump water when necessary. When more air support is
needed small and medium size private helos are hired. The National Guard maintains five
large helos (Blackhawks) in Hilo which have water bucket kits and have occasionally been
hired from the State (the Guard is a State agency). In addition to DLNR support, federal
firefighters may be available from their station in the National Park, National Park crews
(Park Rangers), and the Army's Pohakuloa Training Area. The Park and Pohakuloa occupy
about 8% of the land area of the island.
In coordination with Civil Defense, drought and other fire-hazard conditions are constantly
monitored and actions such as burning bans and closures are instituted when needed. The
public is informed of these restrictions by radio announcements and newspaper notices. New
tools, such as satellite observation of burns, are being examined.
15.2 Significant Historic Events
The County Fire Department reported 897 "fire-related incidents" in 2006, these include
structural fires, the number of wildfires alone was not available. However, DLNR has
reported in the past (in the State Data Book) that 70 to 80 wildfires occurred on this island
annually. The 2007 Annual Wildfire Summary for the State of Hawaii is shown in Table
15-1. This data is not separated per county.
15-1 Hawaii County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan
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
Chapter 15:Hazard Analysis—Wildfires
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Figure 15-1. 2009-2010 Upland fire in South Kona.
Photo Courtesy ofdodyFergerstrom.
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Figure 15.2. Smoke from 2009 Kealakekua upland fire spread throughout South Kona.
Photo Courtesv of'JesseAcosta,DLNR-DOFAW
15-3 Hawaii County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan
Chapter 15:Hazard Analysis—Wildfires
15.3 Probability of Occurrence
From the Hawaii County Drought Plan, for the environment, public health and safety sector,
the 3-month drought interval does not coincide with historical wildfire burn areas. That is,
there appears to be no clear overlap between high drought frequency percentages and past
wildland fire locations. However,the moderate stage for the 12-month interval in conjunction
with the vulnerability analysis for this sector provides the best representation of risk, as areas
of relatively high drought frequency coincide with past wildfire burn areas.
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High Rainfall
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Figure 15-3. Drought Vulnerability to the environment,public health,and safety sector
15.4 Community Wildfire Protection Plans
Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP) arc being developed by the Hawaii Wildfire
Management Organization (HWMO) with guidance and support from community members,
decision makers, and local/state agencies concerned about fire issues. The Hawaii County
Fire Department, the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency, the National Park Service, and
the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources were primary partners in developing
plans for Kau and South Kona, Ocean View, and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The
CWPP planning boundaries are the same as the wildland-urban interface (WUI) at-risk areas,
which include surrounding lands to ensure adequate protection of WUI areas.
15-4 Hawaii County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan
Chapter 15:Hazard Analysis—Wildfires
The goals and objectives of this plan follow the intent and requirements of the Healthy
Forests Restoration Act (HFRA) — HR 1904, which describes a CWPP as a fire mitigation
and planning tool for an at-risk community that:
A. Ts developed within the context of the collaborative agreements and the guidance
established by the Wildland Fire Leadership Council and agreed to by the applicable
local government, local fire department, and State Agency responsible for forest
management, in consultation with interested parties and the Federal land management
agencies managing land in the vicinity of the at-risk community.
B. Identifies and prioritizes areas for hazardous fuel reduction treatments and
recommends the types and methods of treatment on Federal and non-Federal land that
will protect one or more at-risk communities and essential infrastructure.
C. Recommends measures to reduce structural ignitability throughout the at-risk
community.71
Plans address elements of fire protection, hazard assessment, wildfire mitigation priorities,
and community outreach and education. The process engaged a diversity of agencies and
individuals concerned with the at-risk area, following the guidelines and requirements of
federal programs such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Pre-Disaster
Mitigation program and the National Fire Plan(NFP).
The CWPP is non-regulatory and cooperative in nature. The plan provides (1) a foundation
for increased communication, coordination and collaboration among agencies and the public,
(2) identification and prioritization of areas for hazardous fuel reduction projects and wildfire
mitigation actions, and (3) assistance meeting federal and state planning requirements and
qualifying for assistance programs.72
The CWPP works in conjunction with other County and State plans and programs including
but not limited to:
County of Hawaii:
Ka'u Community Development Plan 73
Hawaii County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan 74
County of Hawaii Drought Mitigation Strategies 75
Ka`u to South Kona Water Master Plan 76
Kona Community Development Plan
71 Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003—HR 1904.US Federal Register.
72.Adapted from Linn County Community Wildfire Protection Plan,ECONorwest,September,2007.
73 Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003—HR 1904.US Federal Register.
74 Community Planning and Hazard Risk:The Kau Community Development Plan.County of Hawaii Planning
Department.
75 County of Hawaii Drought Mitigation Strategies,2004.
76 Kau Hawaii.Everything Ka u.
15-5 Hawaii County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan
Chapter 15:Hazard Analysis—Wildfires
State of Hawaii:
State Drought Plan and the County Drought Mitigation Strategies 77
State of Hawaii Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan 78
15.4.1 Multiple-Agency Agreements
The federal, state, and local fire agencies of the Big Island have organized into the Big Island
Wildfire Coordinating Group (BIWCG). Members include:
• National Park Service
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• U.S. Army
• Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife
• Hawaii County Civil Defense
• Hawaii Fire Department
• Department of Transportation-Airports Division, Hawaii District
• Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization
• Firewise
BIWCG was established to further inter-agency cooperation, communications and
coordination, and to implement directions and standards for incident management activities.
BIWCG coordinates the programs of the participating wildland fire agencies on the big
island of Hawaii and provides a forum for leadership, cooperation and the exchange of
information.79 It also improves procedures to rapidly provide the most effective response to
wildfires in the island. In coordination with Civil Defense, drought and other fire-hazard
conditions are constantly monitored and actions such as burning bans and closures are
instituted when needed. The public is informed of these restrictions by radio announcements
and newspaper notices.80
15.4.2 Planning Process
15.4.2.1 CWPP Process and Methods
The process of developing a CWPP helps to clarify and refine priorities for the protection of
life, property, and critical infrastructure in the wildland-urban interface areas. Local
residents, landowners, fire suppression agencies, and community leaders have participated in
valuable discussions regarding wildfire history, resources at risk, areas of concern, and
priority mitigation actions.
17 State Drought Plan and the County Drought Mitigation Strategies.
78 State of Hawaii Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan,2007
79 Big Wand Wildfire Coordinating Group
so Community Planning and Hazard Risk:The Kau Community Development Plan.
15-6 Hawaii County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan
Chapter 15:Hazard Analysis—Wildfires
The methods used to create this CWPP followed the guidelines established for the HFRA,
which requires the following actions during the planning process:
• Step 1- Convene Decision Makers
• Step 2-Involve Federal Agencies
• Step 3a-Involve State and Local Agencies
• Step 3b-Engage Interested parties
This CWPP also followed the guidelines and satisfies the requirements of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Pre-Disaster Mitigation program and the National
Fire Plan(NFP).
15.4.2.2 Decisions Makers
Table 15-2.Decision-Makers for the Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Requirement Agency or Organization
Local Fire Chief Hawaii County Fire Department
Local/County Government Hawaii County Civil Defense Department
State Forestry Agency Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources,
Division of Forestry and Wildlife
15.4.2.3 Federal Agencies
The federal agencies involved in managing the land and fires are:
• National Park Service
• US Army
• US Fish and Wildlife Service
15.4.2.4 State and Local Agencies
The state/local agencies that have jurisdictional responsibilities are:
• Hawai`i County Fire Department
• Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife
15.4.2.5 Interested Parties/Affiliation (if any)
The parties from our community that have shown interest in forest/fire management and have
been involved in the CWPP are:
• Community Development Plan Committee Hawaii County
• Large Landowners
• Local Associations and Organizations Hawaii Wildfire Management
Organization, Big Island Wildfire
Coordinating Group,Discovery
Harbour Community Association
• Private Citizens,Public At Large
15-7 Hawaii County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan
Chapter 15:Hazard Analysis—Wildfires
HWMO is facilitating continued dialogue between residents and agencies regarding wildfire
issues, and intends to posts the plan on its website for public use.
The State Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) has the responsibility for the
prevention and suppression of wildfires on State land and to cooperate with local agencies for
the protection of wildlands on non-State land." To carry out this responsibility, DOFAW
has identified areas where it has primary responsibility and would respond automatically, ar-
eas where it could respond mutually with other firefighting agencies upon request, and areas
totally out of its jurisdiction but where DOFAW could nevertheless respond under specific
conditions (e.g., extreme threats to public safety, local resources fully committed, extreme
fire behavior).
Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization, in cooperation with the Big island Wildfire
Coordinating Group, will provide technical support, identify and coordinate funding, and
serve as a centralized resource for wildfire risk reduction efforts. Together, representatives
will prioritize and recommend funding for projects, document the successes and lessons
learned from those projects, and evaluate and update the CWPP as needed.
15.4.2.6 Community Concerns
In addition to prioritizing resources to protect, community and agency representatives
developed a list of concerns regarding wildfire issues. They are listed below in order of
priority:
1. Insufficient water infrastructure to adequately and quickly suppress wildfires,
including dip tanks.
2. Inadequate fire suppression and support resources, such as rapid and on-site mapping
capabilities and GPS technologies,vehicles,water tankers.
3. Regional and local planning and development standards that do not currently require
community and subdivision designs to consider and/or mitigate fire risk:
a. Landscaping and structural designs, materials, and placement often promote (or
do not mitigate) fire risk; and
b. Roads and highways are not always constructed with wide shoulders, fire lanes,
emergency ingress/egress, or fuel mitigation in mind.
4. Fuel loading along roadsides, in community open areas, around and between
individual homes and farms:
a. Fuels breaks or areas of fuel reduction are desired around communities where
possible and appropriate;
b. Fuel reduction along roadsides, around houses and business, on large private
property parcels, and in vacant lots is needed; and
c. Need to develop and/or enforce community provisions that require fire fuels
reduction on developed/undeveloped properties and by permanent/absentee
landowners.
81 Hawaii Revised Statutes,chapter 185(Land Fire Protection Law).
15-8 Hawaii County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan
Chapter 15:Hazard Analysis—Wildfires
5. Lack of public awareness of the wildfire threat, to include lack of appropriate
awareness by elected officials, planning agencies, large land owners, land managers,
scientists, and homeowners (especially absentee owners)regarding:
a. Fire history and fire hazards;
b. Fire-mitigating landscaping techniques;
c. Importance of mitigation;
d. Fuels management tools and methods; and
e. Common human-caused fire starts, such as roadside ignitions, fireworks, catalytic
converters, green-waste dumping, and arsonists.
6. Need to increase/integrate communication (protocols, equipment, pre- and post- fire
planning)between state, federal, and county agencies,particularly to maximize initial
attack capabilities and to utilize specialized wildland expertise and training for
wildfire situations.
7. Need to reduce and/or control invasive species that possess inherent fire or ignition
properties, e.g. ignite easily and/or carry fire easily.
8. Arson-- It is not well known whether there is amnesty for reporting, nor what civil
liabilities and penalties exist for arsonists.
9. Lack of emergency access staging areas and safety zones/areas within subdivisions
for evacuation purposes.
10. Inadequate community egress and firefighting vehicle ingress during a wildfire
a. Need to identify evacuation routes/roads within subdivisions; and
b. Need to educate community about evacuation protocols.
15.5 Risk Assessment
15.5.1 Purpose and Methods
The purpose of the community risk assessment is to:
• Provide site-specific information to the community to promote wildfire awareness;
• Help identify and prioritize areas for treatment; and
• Determine the highest priority uses for available financial and human resources.
The methods for the community wildfire risk assessment followed the guidelines established
for the HFRA,which requires the following actions:
• Step 4-Establish a Community Base Map
• Step 5a-Develop a Community Risk Assessment
• Step 5b-Identify Overall Community Priorities
15.5.2 Communities at Risk from Wildfires,Island of Hawaii
The communities at risk from wildfires on the Island of Hawaii assessment made by the
Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife, was
mapped in 2005. Community priorities were based on the updated hazard rankings and
overall risk assessment(Table 15-2. above)and fire history(Figure 15.4).
15-9 Hawaii County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan
Chapter 15:Hazard Analysis—Wildfires
COMMUNITIES AT RISK
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Figure 15.5.Local firefighters discuss hazards and fire history patterns revealed through mapping.
Photo Courtesy:HWMO
15-10 Hawaii County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan
Chapter 15:Hazard Analysis—Wildfires
15.6 Mitigation Strategies
15.6.1 Hazard Priorities
15.6.1.1 Purpose and Methods
Priority action items have been developed from a number of sources, including input from
community and agency participants in the planning process, noted deficiencies in local
firefighting capabilities, and issues identified through the risk assessment. These actions
address the following goals:
1. Enhance wildfire response capabilities.
2. Reduce risk and hazards through pro-active wildfire mitigation, including:
• Increasing stakeholder knowledge about wildfire risk through education and
• outreach;
• Encouraging the treatment of structural ignitability;
• Prioritizing fuel reduction projects; and
• Increasing opportunities for collaboration and coordination to implement wildfire
mitigation projects.
3. Address the list of community concerns.
These priority action items follow the guidelines for HFRA,which requires:
• Step 6a-Community Hazard Reduction Priorities
• Priority Actions(General)
• Hazardous Fuels Reduction
• Step 6b-Recommendations to Reduce Structural Ignitability
15.6.1.2 Priority Actions
Action items addressing wildfire issues are listed below, in order of priority:
1. Install pre-staged static water and helicopter dip tanks.
2. Acquire adequate resources for first responders:
a. Appropriate technology resources for mapping at each fire station and on
location;
b. and
c. Water tanker/tenders (minimum 2000 gallon tanker/tender with high wheel base
for off-highway capabilities).
3. Wise development in fire prone areas. Create development standards and implement
community planning that requires the mitigation of wildfire risks at the regional,
community/subdivision,roads/highways, and individual structure levels.
4. Reduce fuel load and/or appropriately convert fuels along road sides, in community
open areas, around individual homes:
a. Appropriate conversion would include transition to vegetation with low ignition
potential and low ability to carry fire, especially native plants. This can be
accomplished through installing/establishing living fuel breaks.
b. Reduce fuels through well-managed grazing, mechanical reduction, herbicide, or
combinations of all treatments.
15-11 Hawaii County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan
Chapter 15:Hazard Analysis—Wildfires
c. Encourage/educate large landowners to reduce fuels on private property.
d. Identify opportunities to assist vulnerable populations (elderly, disabled) in
creating defensible space around homes and property.
e. Develop and or enforce fuels mitigation requirements within communities (to
include developed and vacant lots,permanent resident and absentee landowners).
5. Continue fire prevention education and outreach, including arson prevention
education:
a. Hold community workshops;
b. Implement the fire danger rating system;
c. Provide individual home and neighborhood assessments;
d. Increase public service announcements during high fire hazard periods; and
e. Develop wildland fire materials for youth and implement educational programs in
local schools.
6. Increase communication capabilities between state, federal, and county agencies,
particularly to maximize initial attack capabilities in wildfire events:
a. Integrate current and future communication equipment utilized by federal, state,
and county fire suppression personnel to increase effective firefighting response.
b. Develop protocols for multi-agency involvement to utilize available specialized
wildland fire expertise and equipment/resources.
7. Reduce and/or control invasive species that increase fire risk and, where appropriate,
convert to vegetation as described in priority number three.
S. Advocate for increased penalties for arson and some level of amnesty for reporting
fire.
9. Develop emergency staging areas and safety zones within communities and promote
awareness of such areas within the community, including holding mock disaster
drills.
10. Create/improve secondary access roads for those communities with only one means
of ingress/egress; identify evacuation routes within subdivisions, especially in
neighborhoods where secondary access roads are not available.
15-12 Hawaii County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan
Chapter 15:Hazard Analysis—Wildfires
Well-managed grazing and other fuels management practices (mechanical / chemical /
combination) reduce the risk of wildfire in WUI areas. Sporadic or no fuels management
creates high risk. Unmanaged grasses (above left) are found along roads in areas with little to
no grazing, including neighborhoods. At times, these fuels can reach 8-12 feet, posing
considerable risk of roadside ignition. Note the differences in fuel in above right photo:
pasture in foreground has active grazing; areas in background are not currently grazed and
are at a higher risk of wildfire occurrence.
15.6.1.3 Reducing Structural Ignitahility
Individuals and community associations can reduce structural ignitability throughout their
community by taking the following measures recommended by the Firewise program as
outlined below. However, due to the abundance of native vegetation, it is highly
recommended that individuals and communities conduct a simple native vegetation
assessment and/or consult with appropriate biologists or foresters before clearing trees and
significant amounts of vegetation that may be important to protect.
• Create a buffer zone of defensible space around a property of at least 30 feet or to the
property line if the house has less than 30 feet of yard. Remove flammable vegetation
and combustible growth within 30 feet of the house. Where there is native habitat,
please consult with a biologist or forester first.
• Prune tree limbs 6— 10 feet above the ground.
• Space trees and shrubs ten feet apart in the yard.
• Make sure that plants closest to the house are low-lying.
• Whenever possible use fire-resistant Native Hawaiian species. Succulent plants are
also good choices for converting fire fuels into Firewise landscaping.
• Routinely remove dead leaves and other organic matter from the yard.
• Sweep and/or clean gutters, eaves, and roofs regularly to prevent the build-up of
leaves and other matter.
• Use fire-resistant building materials for the roof, siding, and decks, such as metal,
stucco, tile,brick, and cement.
• Install firebrand-proof ceiling vents to prevent structure fires caused by wind-blown
firebrands.
15-13 Hawaii County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan
Chapter 15:Hazard Analysis—Wildfires
15.6.2 Future Plans
Project Description Status
Drought/Wildland Fire Mitigation Plan County of Hawaii Drought Being updated pending funding
Mitigation Strategy 2004
Identify wildfire hazard areas: See GIS maps in Drought Completed.
Risk and Vulnerability
Assessment and GIS
Mapping Project,UHSOEST
and SSRI,2003
Wildland Fire Mitigation Resource Core resource inventory Periodic updates needed every
Mapping and Inventory Program: Continue completed 18 months. Hawaii Wildfire
the development and maintenance of a GTS Management Organization does
map and database to identify the location, these updates;HWMO is also
type,and contact information for various working on a portable version
widland fire protection resources. for first responders
Install pre-staged static water and Multiple Agencies:federal, Cooperative Funding$828,000;
helicopter dip tanks state,county,and private 2011-2013
Reduce and/or convert fuel load along Multiple Agencies:county Cooperative Funding$850,000;
roadsides,community open areas,and 2010-2014
individual homes and lots
Create development standards and conduct Multiple Agencies:county Cooperative Funding$150,000;
community planning that requires the and state for outreach,any needed impact
mitigation of wildfire risks studies and education
Increase mapping technologies and Multiple Agencies:federal, Cooperative funding: $100,000;
capabilities for fire agencies state,county,and private 2010-2013
Install street signage identifying evacuation Multiple Agencies:federal, Cooperative Funding$50,000;
routes state,county,and private 2010-2014
Develop emergency staging areas within Multiple agencies:private Cooperative Funding$33,000
communities,promoting awareness of such for planning and outreach;
areas within the community,including 2010-2012
holding mock disaster drills
Reduce,control,and or convert invasive Multiple Agencies:federal, Cooperative Funding;
species state,county,and private $1,500,000 includes
maintenance,grazing,and
conversion projects;2008-
2012
Continue fire prevention education and Multiple agencies:federal, Cooperative Funding$30,000;
outreach,including arson prevention state,county,and private 2010-2014
education
Increase effective integrated Multiple agencies Cooperative Funding$150,000;
communication and initial attack protocol 2010-2014
between federal,state,and county fire
suppression agencies
Establish and maintain firebreaks around $2.2M Long-terml5-yr proposed
roads and communities in North and South project
Kohala districts(includes the Kawaihae,
Waikoloa,and Waimea communities)
Mitigate wildfire threat along strategic $500,000 2-year project Wildfire mitigation for the
corridors in the Puako Forest to reduce the Ladder fuels along these forest is an element in the
threat of a catastrophic crown fire that corridors will be removed. South Kohala Community
could destroy the forest and homes as well Development Plan,which was
as threaten nearby resort complexes. adopted by ordinance by
Hawaii County in 2008.
15-14 Hawaii Couno,Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan
Chapter 15:Hazard Analysis—Wildfires
Project Description Status
Install dry hydrants and develop static $10,000/site in high hazard Proposed Project
water sources: The water source/dry wildland fire districts
hydrant will allow fire trucks to refill their
water tanks when fighting forest and
grassland fires in the Hamakua area.
Remote Weather Montoring:Establish and $85,000;intellisense 5-yr proposed project
maintenance Remote Automated Weather telemetry system under This project partially completed
Stations in the districts of North Kohala, development by UH with 3 new RAWS stations in
South Kohala,Kau,Kona,and Mauna Kea. S.Kohala&Kona
Use of prescribed burns to reduce fuel loads $1.1M annually for 500- 15-yr proposed project
in fire prone areas of Hawaii County: Use acres;DOFAW
prescribed burns in fine prone areas Note that the proposed active
including the communities of Waimea, may be in conflict where
Kawaihae,Puako,Waikoloa,Pun Analrulu, there are native forests
and Kailua-Kona.
Roadside fuel management: Develop and Proposed Project
maintain a roadside fuel management
program along an identified corridor of
Highway 190,South Kohala/North Kona.
Agricultural practices to mitigate wildland Needs a tax break incentive Continue to investigate and
fires in communities and subdivisions: expand agricultural practices to
mitigate wildfire impacts by
using livestock grazing in open
pastures as a fuel management
tool.
15-15 Hawaii County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan