Firefighters continue to battle Keauhou fire; 86% contained

KAILUA-KONA — Firefighters continue to battle the Keauhou fire on the northeastern slopes of Mauna Loa declaring the 3,739-acre about 86 percent contained as of Tuesday.

Cooler weather and afternoon cloud cover have assisted firefighters this week, allowing crews to increase containment from 63 percent on Sunday to 86 percent on Tuesday, according to the Southern California Incident Management Team Two of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, which took over command last week.

On Tuesday, firefighters worked to secure a fire line on the northern edge of the fire. Crews also worked to secure the southern edge of the fire, south of the Kipuka Ki Special Ecological Area, a cultural heritage area and rare forest habitat for endangered species.

In addition, fire crews improved safety along the Mauna Loa Road by falling a limited number of trees that became hazards from the fire. By proactively taking down these trees, the area becomes not only safer for firefighters, but also for the park’s resource advisers and scientists who are studying the fire area and the long-term effects, the incident management team said.

The fire may be visible from Highway 11, especially for Hilo-bound traffic, but is not impacting the road or travel.

The cause of the fire, which started about 11 a.m. Aug. 5 outside the park in Keauhou Ranch, is listed as human. A total of 85 personnel were battling the blaze Tuesday.

For the latest update on the fire, visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/ incident/6114.