News Release

Fire crews working to extinguish Mauna Loa brushfire

Mauna Loa brush fire

NPS Photo

News Release Date: August 6, 2018

Contact: Jessica Ferracane/Public Affairs Specialist

Hawaii National Park, HI – A brushfire that started Sunday morning on Keauhou Ranch crossed Mauna Loa Road into Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and is moving west. National Park Service (NPS) firefighters and the County of Hawaiʻi are working to control the blaze, now estimated to be around 700 acres.

Mauna Loa brushfire burning native plants

NPS Photo

The fire is moving west towards Kapāpala Ranch, and is not contained at this time. County of Hawaiʻi fire personnel are also working to suppress the fire outside the park, which was reportedly sparked during repairs to a bulldozer. Firefighters from the Division of Forestry and Wildlife and volunteer firefighters from Volcano also responded.

Strong winds and dry conditions at the fire’s 4,800-foot elevation are making it a challenge to control. No homes or structures are currently at risk, but the fire has scorched native koa forest, which provides important habitat to endangered and endemic species like the Hawaiian hawk and Hawaiian bat.

Mauna Loa Road – along with most of the national park – has been closed to the public since May 11 due to hazardous seismic activity. The next significant rainfall is not expected until Wednesday, when Hurricane Hector is expected to impact the Hawaiian Islands.

-NPS-