HILO, Hawai‘i (1 August, 2021) —Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA), Hilo, Hawaii--U.S. Army resources from the Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) remain committed to the combined effort in the fight against the brush fire in Hamakua District. Together with the Hawaii Fire Department, volunteer firefighters, and county and state agencies, the battle against the wind, and massive area of the fire remain a challenging effort. With four UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, the team has been dumping water on the fire from sunrise to sunset.
Complementing this effort, the PTA public works team is manning four large bulldozers to cut firebreaks ahead of the fire. The PTA team of approximately 12 firefighters from the base have been involved with the fire since it began on Friday, under the direction of the incident command center established at West Hawaii Concrete. Visit the PTA Facebook page for continuing updates www.facebook.com/pohakuloatrainingarea.
"The entire team fighting this wildfire includes brave men and women from the local community. Together we will do everything we can to protect the lives, homes and business and aina," said Lt. Col. Kevin E. Cronin, Commander Pohakuloa Training Area.
Please contact Mike Donnelly, the Pōhakuloa Training Area Public Affairs Office (808) 824-1474
The 25th Combat Aviation Brigade based at Wheeler Army Airfield on Oahu has sent four U-H-60 Blackhawk helicopters, along with one CH-47 (Shi-nook) to conduct bucket drops of water on the fire. The air crews have been working around the clock during daylight hours to assist the ground efforts. The Army is also committing several large scale bull dozers to assist the overall effort in preventing the fire from reaching homes and residential areas.