Department of Land and Natural Resources

DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
News Release

NEIL ABERCROMBIE GOVERNOR

WILLIAM J. AILA JR, CHAIRPERSON

For Immediate News Release October 7, 2013

DLNR CREWS FIND SECOND WILDFIRE NEAR SITE
OF KEANAKOLU AREA OF HILO FOREST RESERVE

HILO — State fire crews working this weekend to mop-up a fire in a remote section of the Hilo Forest Reserve near Keanakolu found another small fire below a fenced unit on the Humuula Trail. The combined size of both fires is 3 acres.

However, because the grass was green in the new area there was not a clean burn. As it dries out, it is re-igniting and burning, due to the high organic content in the soil.

DLNR firefighters brought in a private 5000 gallon water tender from Waimea to assist in fire control operations, which are now expected to go through Tuesday Oct. 8 There are 21 Division of Forestry and Wildlife staff on scene.

Initial response to the Keanakolu fire included assistance from the Hawaii County Fire department helicopter.

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Deborah Ward,
DLNR Public Information Specialist
Phone: (808) 587-0320