Fireworks & Fire Report for New Years…Kohala & Kona +
Hawaii Island Radio Scanner Community Information:
The second fire call came at 12:53 am Tuesday Morning (January 1st, 2019) for a report of a brush burning approximately 2 miles to the north of Kawaihae Harbor above Kawaihae Hawaiian Homestead. Crews from South Kohala, Waimea, Waikoloa, along with Chopper 1 and volunteers from Kohala Ranch and Kanehoa (Waimea) responded to the scene. Upon the arrival of crews, determine the fire to be burning in open pasture land in between Kohala Ranch and Kawaihae Hawaiian Homestead and inaccessible to ground units. A private bulldozer was dispatched to the scene where it cut a road/break to the fire scene and crews were able to contain the fire to 18 acres. HFD crews are remaining on scene through the night to monitor for hotspots. It’s also unknown at this time if this fire was caused by fireworks.
The third fire call came in at 3:45 pm Tuesday Afternoon (January 1st, 2019) for a brush fire off of Pu’u Melia Street in the Waikoloa Village. Crews from the Waikoloa, Waimea, South Kohala, along with volunteers from Kalaoa, Kanehoa (Waimea), and Pu’uanahulu responded to the scene. Upon the arrival of crews, determined the fire was burning in open pasture land just above the Waikoloa Fire Station and winds were fire was moving to the south away from the nearby apartment complex and the village. HFD has the fire under control working to contain the fire with help of private bulldozers, which are cutting breaks around the fire. It’s unknown at this time how much acres have burned as a result of this brush fire. It’s unknown at this time if this fire was caused by fireworks.
No injuries or damage to structures has been reported from all 3 fires.
It was a relatively quiet New Year’s Eve in Kona, at least proverbially.
Police reported only five arrests over the holiday bridging this year and the last. Officers picked up Chad Hose, 42, for drunken driving. Sgt. Grad Elarionoff said reports indicate Hose got into two separate accidents with two different vehicles, leaving the scene both times.
Hose was arrested for driving with a suspended license, driving without motor vehicle insurance, two counts of accident involving damage to a vehicle or property and one count of habitual DUI.
Police arrested Noah Gauthier for disorderly conduct as well as Sham Freitas, who they picked up on bench warrants for two counts of contempt of court and one count of probational bail.
Officers also arrested Jason Sanchis for contempt of court and John Broadfoot for criminal contempt.
While Kona streets were relatively clear of metaphorical fireworks, they were chalk full of the literal kind. It’s a problem cops do their best to handle, but one that has become ubiquitous across the island.
“There was just a lot of illegal fireworks calls,” Elarionoff said. “(Police) respond where they can when they can, but there’s just too much.”
No fires resulted from all the sparks and lit fuses within the district, but two burned further north — one outside of Waikoloa Village and another above Hawaiian Homes in Kawaihae.
Hawaii Fire Department Battalion Chief Michael Grace said both fires occurred on open land, adding there were no injuries and no structures involved in either blaze.
He said the fire in Waikoloa Village began “fairly early” Monday evening but couldn’t provide an exact time or acreage, while the one in Kawaihae began a little after 1 a.m. Tuesday.
“We’re using a helicopter, we got a couple (bulldozers) on it, we got some units on the ground putting out some hot spots,” said Grace of the 18-acre fire in Kawaihae, offering his comment around 11 a.m. Tuesday. “Basically the fire’s out … we’re just taking care of the hot spots.”
Another source within HFD said both fires were contained as of 1 p.m. Tuesday, but added firefighters remained on site in Kawaihae. The causes behind the two fires were not immediately available.
A third fire began a little after 3:30 p.m. Tuesday near the Waikoloa fire station. No details were available by press time.
By Max Dible West Hawaii Today mdible@westhawaiitoday.com
