July 31 - Large Brush Fire in Waimea (Big Island) Waikoloa Village Evacuation Order
Aug 1, 2021, 5:49 pm
#1
Moderator: Hawaii-based airlines & Hawai'i forums
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Ka ʻĀpala Nui, Nuioka
Programs: NEXUS/Global Entry, Delta, United, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, and Hertz
Posts: 18,039
July 31 - Large Brush Fire in Waimea (Big Island) Waikoloa Village Evacuation Order
There is currently a large brush fire burning in the Waikii Ranch area, where the Saddle Road and Highway 190 meet. It is a windy day and the fire is spreading. The entire Waikoloa Village is under a mandatory evacuation order. I know several FTers live in the area, so please join me in sending our best wishes to all.
https://hawaii-county-civil-defense-...q5LPRmn2WyCqHA
https://www.kwxx.com/2021/08/01/evac...SYNUSpNtsU1i3o
https://hawaii-county-civil-defense-...q5LPRmn2WyCqHA
https://www.kwxx.com/2021/08/01/evac...SYNUSpNtsU1i3o
Aug 1, 2021, 6:00 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: MCO
Programs: DL PM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 4,319
There is currently a large brush fire burning in the Waikii Ranch area, where the Saddle Road and Highway 190 meet. It is a windy day and the fire is spreading. The entire Waikoloa Village is under a mandatory evacuation order. I know several FTers live in the area, so please join me in sending our best wishes to all.
https://hawaii-county-civil-defense-...q5LPRmn2WyCqHA
https://www.kwxx.com/2021/08/01/evac...SYNUSpNtsU1i3o
https://hawaii-county-civil-defense-...q5LPRmn2WyCqHA
https://www.kwxx.com/2021/08/01/evac...SYNUSpNtsU1i3o
Aug 4, 2021, 3:51 am
#3
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: New York / Hawaii
Programs: UA Global Services, HH Diamond
Posts: 5,178
Waikoloa Village did escape unscathed for now, with the 50,000+ acre fire coming within 2.5 miles of the town of 7,000 people. An aggressive fight by the military and a concentration of resources to cut a substantial firebreak saved the Village ...as did shifting winds.
Stores/restaurants are back open after being closed for the evacuation. Places like the Queens Shops closed down the mall to reduce traffic on area roads so that evacuees could seek shelter. Plus I imagine many shop workers lived in a mandatory evacuation area and wanted to deal with that.
Unfortunately, there is decent community spread of COVID in the Waikoloa area at resorts and local shops/restaurants, so many places are closing to isolate staff, clean workplaces, etc. New closures and reduced hours at some places now are due to that and not lingering impacts from the fire.
Stores/restaurants are back open after being closed for the evacuation. Places like the Queens Shops closed down the mall to reduce traffic on area roads so that evacuees could seek shelter. Plus I imagine many shop workers lived in a mandatory evacuation area and wanted to deal with that.
Unfortunately, there is decent community spread of COVID in the Waikoloa area at resorts and local shops/restaurants, so many places are closing to isolate staff, clean workplaces, etc. New closures and reduced hours at some places now are due to that and not lingering impacts from the fire.
Aug 24, 2021, 9:20 am
#4
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA MileagePlus (Premier Gold); Hilton HHonors (Gold); Chase Ultimate Rewards; Amex Plat
Posts: 6,679
Interesting. I was at the Queens Shops on August 1. My wife ordered a drink from Starbucks at around 11:15 am just before we left to go to Maunakea and was surprised when she walked in to pick up her drink and they locked the doors behind her as she walked out. We had no idea why they were closing because the Waikōloa Beach Resort should have been immune to the fire -- cooled lava does not combust.