Forecasters say Hawaii island and pockets of the U.S. Southeast and Southwest could face above-normal danger of significant wildfires this summer.
The National Interagency Fire Center’s summer outlook, released Thursday, shows the risk on Hawaii island is expected to be above normal through September.
The federal forecasters also say western Nevada faces above-normal fire danger from July through September. The risk will be high in inland Southern California in July and in parts of Northern California during August and September.
Southeastern Arizona and western New Mexico could have above-normal risk in June.
Forecasters say fire danger will be below normal through July in the Rocky Mountains and in a large swath of the East from Texas to the Atlantic. The risk will return to normal in late summer.
Hawaii island
Federal funds benefit airports
Airports in Hilo and Kahului are to receive more than $10 million in federal funding to improve airport operations and runway safety.
Hilo International Airport will receive more than $4.4 million for drainage improvements at Runway 8/26.
The improvements include $6.1 million toward the acquisition of some 13.3 acres of privately owned land for the approach and departure airspace for Runway 2-20 at Kahului Airport.
The projects will help prevent incompatible land uses by the landowner that could hinder airport operations and safety, U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono’s office said.
“Federal funding for these runway improvement projects will help to strengthen runway safety,” Hirono said.
Maui
Fair organizers unite to trim costs
Fair organizers hope to keep their events running amid rising shipping rates.
Organizers met last week with government officials and decided to draft a proposal urging Gov. David Ige to identify their fairs as a “purpose for public good” so wharf fees can be waived. Wharf fees are charged by shipping terminals when goods move through the locations.
“It was a very constructive and successful discussion,” said Avery Chumbley, president of the Maui Fair Alliance. “It helped us identify each other’s concerns and problems and reach a solution that would get us to a commitment to be able to continue to do the fairs.”
In March, E.K. Fernandez Shows canceled the Maui County Carnival because shipping rates have doubled over the past decade.
Company President Scott Fernandez said he had to pay $500,000 last year to ship the carnival’s equipment — a cost that he said would have increased this year.
Fernandez committed to the 95th Maui Fair but said its future is also in jeopardy.
Shipping rates have risen more than 40 percent in the past three years, Fernandez said.
