Kahoʻolawe Brush Fire Grows, Continues To Burn

The brush fire burning on Kahoʻolawe has grown to over 5,400 acres, yet left the island’s only facility, the Kaho’olawe Island Reserve Commission, mostly untouched. The uninhabited island has been burning since Saturday morning, and is being left alone due to concerns over unexploded ordinances. UXOs remain from decades old military munitions ranging from small arms to larger pieces of artillery create hazards for personnel on the ground. No fire fighting operations are planned. “As long as there’s brush to burn, the primary direction is going to be dictated by the wind. The fire’s going to want to move mauka, which it did. . .” Maui Fire Services Chief Rylan Yatsushiro The fire started on the southwestern coast of Kaho’olawe and spread inland quickly. It’s currently unknown how the fire started. “Looks like the fire completely surrounded the KIRC base camp, but we are fortunate that our fire breaks around camp held. The only apparent damage at the base camp was the loss of a Clivus (compost toilet) behind the galley. “ Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission (KIRC) The Maui Fire Department has suggested the fire may burn for sometime. Map via NASA FIRMS, images via KIRC