Risk of brush fires
closes parts of the
Waianae mountain range
The state is closing all forest reserves as well as public hunting and game management areas in Oahu's Waianae mountain range because of continuing dry conditions.
The Department of Land & Natural Resources cited the threat of brush fires in the range when the closure was announced yesterday.
The closure was set to go into effect Monday, with public activities suspended until further notice, the department said.
The action was in concurrence with a drought proclamation issued last month by Gov. Linda Lingle, it said.
Several recent brush fires in the range have darkened 3,200 acres, DLNR Chairman Peter Young said.
"Most recently, a fire in the Waianae Kai Forest Reserve demonstrated extreme fire behavior never before witnessed in a remote area of the watershed," Young said. "These incidents reinforce the need for a fire closure until sufficient and sustained rainfall occurs and recovery of the vegetation has taken place."
