Līhu‘e, Kaua‘i, HI – 8/20/12 — About 130 customers of Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) remain without power in Kokee because of the wildfire that swept through the area over the weekend and burned utility poles and lines.
Eleven poles were damaged by fire and are being replaced by KIUC crews working from dawn until nightfall. Because of the extensive damage and the difficulty reaching the poles, which are in old cane fields mauka of the old Kekaha mill, it may take until Wednesday to restore power to the area. The utility has moved all of its line crews into the affected area to make repairs as quickly as possible.
The wildfire burned about 2,000 acres and was one of the most damaging to KIUC’s infrastructure in recent memory. In addition to burning the poles, the fire also damaged radio and fiber optic cables. No estimate of the repair cost has yet been made.
KIUC shut down power to the Kokee line on Saturday morning when it became clear the brush fire was moving through the area.
Eleven poles were damaged by fire and are being replaced by KIUC crews working from dawn until nightfall. Because of the extensive damage and the difficulty reaching the poles, which are in old cane fields mauka of the old Kekaha mill, it may take until Wednesday to restore power to the area. The utility has moved all of its line crews into the affected area to make repairs as quickly as possible.
The wildfire burned about 2,000 acres and was one of the most damaging to KIUC’s infrastructure in recent memory. In addition to burning the poles, the fire also damaged radio and fiber optic cables. No estimate of the repair cost has yet been made.
KIUC shut down power to the Kokee line on Saturday morning when it became clear the brush fire was moving through the area.
See the original article at: KHON2 Developing Stories
