Nearly a month ago, on August 13th, a brush fire at the 48.5-mile marker of Daniel K. Inouye Highway caused a closure between the Old Saddle Road junction and the junction of Highway 190, according to Hawai’i County Civil Defense. Following a two day battle, Hawai’i County reopened the road on Sunday, August 15th, after the fire was finally contained around 1:30pm. Ultimately, the fire burned 320 acres of land, according to the Hawai’i Fire Department (HFD).
Since then, the scorched grasslands have rapidly recovered. Fresh grass has sprouted back through barren earth. In some areas, it is difficult to find any remaining footprints of the fire.
~ Photos from along Waiki’i Road (the Old Saddle Road). Taken on August 31st, 2021 ~
