Firefighters contain scrap metal yard blaze in Lihue, no injuries reported

Firefighters contained a fast-moving blaze at the PCCC scrap metal vehicle storage area in Līhue after multiple vehicles caught fire near Kanakolu Street and Ehiku Street. No injuries were reported, and nearby structures were not threatened.

The fire was reported just before 2:15 p.m. Wednesday, June 24, and crews arrived shortly before 2:40 p.m. to find multiple vehicles fully engulfed in flames. The fire had already spread into an outdoor storage area, adding to the response at the scrap metal yard.

Units from the Līhue Fire Station, Kalāheo Fire Station, Rescue 3 aboard Air 1, the on-duty battalion chief, Līhue Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting, and the Kaua‘i Police Department all responded. The Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency monitored the incident as a thick column of smoke rose over Līhue and darkened skies in the area.

Firefighters brought the blaze under control at about 4:03 p.m., but the work was not finished there. Crews stayed with heavy equipment operators to separate and move piles of vehicles and scrap so they could reach remaining hotspots and prevent the fire from rekindling.

Battalion Chief Bryan Doo thanked Līhue Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting personnel for deploying Rescue 44 and its High Reach Extendible Turret, saying the equipment helped suppress the fire more quickly and kept it from spreading farther. The scene was cleared shortly before 7:15 p.m. after several hours of suppression and overhaul work.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.