Kauai firefighters extinguish small blaze in valley

Kauai firefighters were flown into Lumahai Valley on Saturday and extinguished a small fire using pickaxlike tools and water from backpack pumps, Kauai officials said.

Rescue 3 firefighters were flown into the valley aboard the Fire Department’s Air 1 helicopter in response to a report of a tree fire.

They were dropped onto a ridge in Lumahai Valley around 9:45 a.m., then hiked to the scene, where they found smoldering roots and leaves over a 10-by-10-foot area on state land, Kauai officials said.

Using two 5-gallon backpack water pumps and rescue tools similar to a pickax, the firefighters had the fire under control at 9:50 a.m., officials said.

Air 1 flew the firefighters to Lihue Airport around 11:26 a.m.

Forum to discuss feral donkey transport status

A community meeting is being held on Hawaii island before more than 100 feral donkeys are moved to California.

The meeting, discussing latest developments, is planned for Friday at Waikoloa Community Church.

The Humane Society of the United States is planning to remove the donkeys, called the Waikoloa Nightingales, to keep their population in check and out of populated areas.

Local equine veterinarian Dr. Brady Bergin plans to conduct medical evaluations and sterilization of the donkeys.

The Humane Society says the donkeys originally worked on coffee plantations, but they’ve been put at risk following years of increased development, drought conditions and a lack of herd management.

The Waikoloa Donkey Rescue and Rehoming Project has transported 200 donkeys from the island since last year.