MEDIA RELEASE

Good afternoon this is Fire Chief Darryl Oliveira with a brush fire update for Monday January 18 at 4:00 p.m.

The firefighting operations on the Kealakekua Mauka Brush fire in the Kona area were continued today. Personnel from the Hawaii Fire Department, Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate, and Forest Solutions continue to extinguish hot spots and flare-ups within the fire area.

The perimeter remains secure and the fire break has been widened to provide additional safety and as a precaution with the possible increase in winds forecasted for this week.

Again, the fire fighting operations on the Kealakekua Mauka brush fire continue and personnel will be on scene throughout the night. Smoke conditions on the fire scene have been reported as light however depending upon local wind and weather the smoke conditions in the Kona area may vary.

Progress continues to be made with extinguishing the smoldering fires and hot spots. Thank you once again for the help, assistance, and support we have and continue to receive with this fire.