Parker Ranch on the Big Island of Hawaii released the following statement regarding the brush fire that has burned over 40,000 acres on the Big Island:

It is with very heavy hearts that we share the news of this wildfire and its impacts on Parker Ranch.

Our current estimate is that over 32,000 acres of Parker Ranch pasture is burned, with a combined total of over 50,000 acres burned for all lands involved in this devastating fire.

Our employees, friends and firefighters from County, State and Federal resources were all involved trying to gain control of this fire.

The quick action of our Parker Ranch cowboys resulted in thousands of animals saved from the path of this raging fire – estimated to be 2,000 to 3,000 saved from those burning pastures.

Unfortunately, the 40 mph+ sustained winds for 3 days were powerful enough to jump firebreaks cut by as many as 15 dozers working day and night.

It appears some animals were lost to this fire as the torrent of winds pushed the fire faster than resources could move to confront it. However, we believe the numbers of animals killed by the fire is less than 100.

We will take inventory and determine the actual number lost as soon as possible.

We are conducting a damage assessment of the infrastructure destroyed and analyzing the potential impacts on our operations.

Mahalo to all of those people who worked together to mitigate the destruction that this fire could have caused. Without their help, the losses could have been potentially much greater, including the possible loss of many human lives and property.

We are blessed to live in this community and have friends to help in such a time with such a violent force of nature. Mahalo nui.

Parker Ranch
August 2, 2021 (3:30pm)

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