300-acre brush fire continues to burn near Kōkeʻe on Kauaʻi

Firefighters are still working to put out a large brush fire near Kōkeʻe on Kauaʻi.

The fire is 60% contained and has burned between 300 and 500 acres. Authorities say it ignited shortly before 3 a.m. Thursday, likely caused by a car fire just off Waimea Canyon Drive.

Kaua‘i Fire Department Chief Michael Gibson said firebreaks in the area are maintained by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and private landowners. Both significantly reduced the spread of flames.

The DLNR said it hopes to have the “Hukipo Fire,” as crews call it, completely contained by the end of the day.

Waimea Canyon Drive remains closed from Mile Marker 2 to the Kōke'e Road junction. No homes or structures are threatened.

Authorities initially said the fire burned 1,200 acres of land. But KFD said in a news release: “Limited visibility due to darkness and smoke made it difficult to accurately assess the extent of the fire before daylight. »

The DLNR said the burned land contained invasive grass.

“Although we have had plenty of moisture this spring and the vegetation is green, this is a perfect example of how invasive exotic plants like haole koa and guinea grass provide copious fuel for fires forest,” said Sheri Mann of the DLNR's Kaua Forestry and Wildlife Division. 'I branch manager, in a press release.