Hawaii County Fire Department personnel continued to battle an elongated, 1,645-acre brush fire in the area of Ka‘alu‘alu near South Point, in Ka‘u.

As of today, the fire stretched from Waikapuna Bay to within three-quarters of a mile of the Green Sands subdivision and had more than a dozen spot fires outside the main area, fire officials reported.

Twelve HCFD units staffed by 17 personnel were joined by five volunteer firefighters. Two helicopters conducted water drops in support of ground units fighting the fire.

The fire is contained on three sides by roads widened by bulldozers and by the coastline.

Fire officials said HCFD personnel would monitor the fire overnight, with operations set to resume on Tuesday morning.

Meanwhile, fire investigators are working to identify the cause of a brush fire that burned approximately 25 acres in Poipu on Sunday.

No injuries were reported, however there were damages to heavy machinery, trucks and equipment stationed at a green waste baseyard. Fire inspectors estimate these damages at roughly $20,000.

At approximately 12:45 p.m., multiple units were dispatched to an open field on the mauka side of the dirt roads that lead to Mahaulepu.

Air 1, Rescue 3, crews from the Koloa and Kalaheo fire stations, and the on-duty Battalion Chief responded. Jack Harter and Airborne Aviation provided two additional helicopters to assist with water drops to the area.

The land owner, Grove Farm, coordinated with Waalani Enterprises, Earthworks Pacific and Kukui‘ula Development Company, Goodfellow Bros., and operators Dennis Esaki and Mike Kali to provide additional water tankers and other heavy equipment to help gain control of the blaze.

Also helping to secure the perimeter of the fire were Kaua‘i ATV, Blue Knight Security, Kaua‘i Freight Service, Ajar, ACE Team and Ho‘omana Painting.

The fire was deemed under control and contained at approximately 6 p.m. Personnel remained at the scene until approximately 12:15 a.m. today, to extinguish any hot spots.

Fire officials said firefighters would continue to monitor and respond to flare ups, which are usual occurrences after a large brush fire.