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Posted: Thursday, June 21st, 2012 9:10 AM HST

Firefighters make headway against Pahala Wildfires

By Ken Hupp - 67AM KPUA News

Firefighters report progress in battling a pair of wildfires that broke out Monday afternoon in Pahala. Assistant Fire Chief Aaron Arbles told KPUA News that crews in the field received some welcome relief from Mother Nature Wednesday. “Yes, we were very fortunate,” Arbles said. “For about two hours or so, there was some rain in the area. “So that helped a lot in our firefighting efforts.” Arbles said crews were making headway in trying to contain the larger fire on the makai side of Highway 11 that has charred an estimated 5,200 acres. “We have the perimeter along the highway secured and we’re also trying to secure a jump that happened on the mauka end,” Arbles explained. “We have the bulldozers in that area and our crews are on the hotspots.” Arbles added that fire was about 50 percent contained and had yet to claim any homes or other structures. He said the smaller mauka fire along Cane Haul Road was about 95 percent contained. The turn of events enabled authorities to reopen Highway 11, which had been closed in both directions from the 46-mile marker to Kamani Street in Pahala town. Meanwhile, Ka`u Hospital was able to reopen its rural health clinic and bring back 15 long term care patients who had been evacuated to the Naalehu Community Center, following intensive clean up efforts. “Through Hilo Medical Center and Civil Defense, we’ve had giants blowers that willactually take the air and blow it outside, plus many, many fans trying to blow the air out,” said Administrator Merilyn Harris. “And then all of our staff have been involved in cleaning the facility, to get it ready to bring patients home and to take care of them.” Harris said the hospital’s Long’s pharmacy has also re-opened.