Akoni Pule FireTestimonies

According to Bernard Sadoulet (coordinator of the Fire Protection subcommittee): On August 8 at roughly 2:30 am,  my spouse smelled the fire, then saw a glow from pour deck and woke me up. After calling 911 (they knew!) and trying to call the security answer (no answer, left a message, I have never been called back), woke up Terry DeJournett, went down to the road, spoke with the firemen, the fire had already jumped Akoni Pule Road ≈1/2 mile north of the Ranch. Told that they were likely evacuating the North part of the Heathers. Terry went down down to the road also and in subsequent conversations, was rather pessimistic: dry conditions, circling winds, fire going up  a gulch entering the Ranch at the end of Puamale Place, where he went to help for mst of the morning. Tried to call Gary Padovani who was off the the island (he called me back later that morning).
Organized in our local neighborhood a small local telephone tree. Started to pack our animals, a few valued art pieces, open our gate. No attempt to put the irrigation on. A policeman knocked around 5:00 am on our house door to tell us about the fire and only when asked, told us that we had to evacuate. He did not know whether it was mandatory and did not have any information. Terry sent me at 5:14 am  a message about the shelter in Kamehameha park in Kapau. We evacuated I believe roughly at 5:30 am. Arrived at Kamemeha park, one pleasant host there, WFI but nothing is prepared: no cots, blankets  yet. After breakfast, we decided to find a hotel in Hawi