UPDATED MEDIA RELEASE (1/13/10 4:30 p.m.)

Good afternoon this is Fire Chief Darryl Oliveira with a brush fire update for Wednesday January 13 at 4:00 p.m.

Fire fighting operations on the Kealakekua mauka brush fire in Kona continued today.

County aircraft were called in to extinguish two flare-ups that threatened to jump fire breaks. Strengthening winds and higher mid-day temperatures contributed to the flare-ups, which may cause more smoke to be visible to residents.

One of the flare-ups did cross the firebreak today but was extinguished by firefighters the State Division of Forestry and Wildlife and private landowners who continue to battle the fire on the ground with hose lines and hand tools.

Resources or equipment that was on scene today included 4 brush trucks, 2 gamma off road vehicles, 1 tanker, and 2 County helicopters.

Again, two flare-ups today have contributed to additional smoke from the Kealakekua mauka fire but firefighters from multiple agencies continue to battle the fire and will remain on the scene until it is extinguished.

I would like to once again thank our partner agencies, the land owner, and the community for the assistance and support we have received.

MEDIA RELEASE (1/13/10 8:33 a.m.)

This is a Civil Defense Message.

This is brushfire update for January 13th at 7:15 a.m.

Brushfire operations at the Kealakekua mauka brush fire continue today; with County, State, Federal, Private, and Volunteer personnel and resources cooperating in the effort.

Presently the burning is limited to hot spots and smoldering logs and trees. Resources on scene today include brush trucks, bulldozers, and specialized wildland fire fighting apparatus.

Objectives today include the monitoring and maintenance of fire breaks and the extinguishment of hot spots and flare ups. Smoke conditions appear to be improving daily, but will be a persistent problem until the fire is completely extinguished.

Again, the firefighting efforts on the Kealakekua mauka fire continues and crews remain on scene on a 24/7 basis.

Thank you and have a safe day.

This is your Hawaii County Civil Defense.