Kauai fire 70% contained, Kokee Road reopens

Kauai County officials said the Kokee fire, first reported Thursday night, was 70 percent contained as of 5:30 p.m. Saturday, with about 3,000 acres burned.

Aircraft deployed to help fight the fire suspended operations at nightfall and will resume flights Sunday morning, the county said. Ground crews, meanwhile, will work through the night.

There have been no injuries reported and no buildings are currently in danger.

The voluntary evacuation/shelter-in-place order for Kokee residents will be lifted with the reopening of Kokee Road to two-way traffic at 7 p.m. Saturday. Waimea Canyon Drive will remain closed in both directions until further notice, the county said.

The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative restored power to the Kokee circuit as of 10:45 a.m. Saturday. Two poles sustained minor damage but will be replaced at a later date, the county said.

A number of county, state, federal and community resources have responded to the fire since it began. These include the Kauai Fire and Police Departments, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement and Division of Forestry and Wildlife, the county Department of Public Works, the Pacific Missile Range Facility, the Lihue Airport Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting squad, the Agribusiness Development Corp., Kekaha Agriculture Association, Kauai Emergency Management Agency, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, the state Department of Transportation’s Highways Division, the Hawaii National Guard and multiple private contractors.

The Kauai Emergency Operations Center remains partially activated under a joint command.