Napau fire area showing the unburned areas within the fire perimeter and the fuming Pu‘€˜u ‘€˜O‘€˜o in the background. Photo courtesy of National Park Service.

By Baron Sekiya | Hawaii 24/7

The lava flow from the Kamoamoa Fissure Eruption which ignited the Napau Fire. Photo courtesy of National Park Service.

The Napau Fire is reported to be 80% contained with no increase in size of the burn area as of mid-day Sunday (March 27).

Firefighters are continuing to set a high priority in protecting the East Rift SEA (Special Ecological Area) on the South side of the fire and the Kealakomo and Naula SEAs on the South.

Protected over decades by Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the rain and mesic forests threatened by the spread of the Napau Fire are home to plants, birds, bugs, spiders, and bats found only in Hawaii. They include the endangered Hawaiian Hoary Bat (‘Ope‘ape‘a), hawk (‘Io) and other uniquely Hawaiian plants and animals such as Hawaiian thrush, (‘Oma‘o), lama and sandalwood trees, happyface spiders, carnivorous caterpillars, and Hawaiian honeycreepers (‘Apapane and ‘Amakihi).

Fire crews hike into the Napau Fire. Photo courtesy of National Park Service.

There have been no injuries due to the firefighting reported and the Chain of Craters Road is open.

The Napau Fire was originally ignited from the Kamoamoa Fissure Eruption on March 5, 2011.