Hawaiʻi County Mayor Mitch Roth and Civil Defense Administrator Talmadge Magno are urging the community to take necessary steps in preparation for a Red Flag Warning anticipated to take effect tomorrow morning, November 5, around 10 a.m., and continue through Monday, November 6. Hawaiʻi County is now under a Fire Weather Watch. The County’s Emergency Operation Center will be activated throughout the duration of the event.
The Fire Weather Watch issued by the National Weather Service covers all leeward areas of Hawaiʻi Island, from North Kohala to Kaʻū and the interior communities. Conditions in these areas will lead to drier weather, significantly affecting Hawaiʻi Island on Sunday and Monday.
A Red Flag Warning is issued when the combination of dry vegetation and weather conditions creates an extremely high fire risk.
Hawaiʻi County highlights that these conditions are conducive to the rapid spread of wildfires, creating difficulties for containment.
“We’re asking our residents to protect each other by being cautious and remaining mindful in their actions,” said Mayor Mitch Roth. “We’ve seen these conditions lead to multiple fires along our leeward coast in the past, and we want to ensure we do all we can to prevent them to the best of our ability. These fires can potentially put our firefighters and communities at large in harm’s way. By remaining mindful and refraining from potentially risky behaviors, we can significantly reduce the chances of large brushfires this time around.”
In response to the Fire Weather Watch, the County is urging the following measures:
Potential Camping Permit Cancellation: All camping permits for Sunday within the affected Beach Parks have the potential to be canceled. This includes Mahukona Beach Park, Spencer Beach Park, Kohanaiki Beach Park, Hoʻokena Beach Park, Punaluʻu Beach Park, and Whittington Beach Park. Campers will be notified promptly if conditions are conducive to cancellation.
Prohibition of Outdoor Burning: All outdoor burning will be strictly prohibited in North Kohala, South Kohala, North Kona, South Kona, and Kaʻū from 12 a.m. on Sunday, November 5, 2023, through 6 a.m. on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.
Prohibition of Outdoor Open Flame Activities: Outdoor activities involving open flames, such as outdoor cooking, welding, and grinding metal, will be prohibited from 12 a.m. on Sunday, November 5, 2023, through 6 a.m. on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.
Vehicle Parking Prohibition: Parking vehicles on dry grass after travel is prohibited prohibited from 12 a.m. on Sunday, November 5, 2023, through 6 a.m. on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.
Property Fire Safety Measures: Property owners are urged to secure outdoor items and implement necessary fire safety precautions on their premises.
Residents are also encouraged to visit the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization’s official website at https://www.hawaiiwildfire.org/home for valuable information on wildfire prevention and safety measures.
The County of Hawaiʻi assures residents that any updates or changes in conditions will be promptly communicated. Safety remains the top priority, and the cooperation of all residents is crucial to mitigate the risks posed by the prevailing fire weather conditions.
This is a Civil Defense Message.
This is a Fire Weather Watch Information Statement for Saturday, November 4th at 10 AM.
The National Weather Service has issued a Fire Weather Watch for leeward areas of Hawaii Island for North and South Kohala, North and South Kona, and Ka`u Districts, in preparation for a Red Flag Warning anticipated to take effect starting Sunday morning.
A Red flag Warning means a combination of strong winds, low humidity, and dry brush can contribute to extreme fire conditions.
Due to these fire weather conditions;
Expect east winds of 15 to 25 MPH with gusts of up to 40 MPH and dryer conditions to impact Hawaii Island on Sunday and Monday.
Hawaii Island residents, please avoid all outdoor activity that involves an open flame or parking of vehicles on dry grass after travel.
Please take this time to mitigate fire safety concerns on your property and to secure outdoor items.
For wildfire preventive actions, please visit the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization website at https://www.hawaiiwildfire.org/home
You will be informed and updated should conditions change.
This is your Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency.
For more information, please visit the County of Hawaii Hazard Impact Map.