By Tino Ramirez
Advertiser Staff Writer
CAMPBELL INDUSTRIAL PARK — Fire investigators were trying to determine whether a midmorning fire yesterday at Unitek Environmental Systems in Campbell Industrial Park was set intentionally.
The fire caused about $250,000 damage to tire-shredding equipment at Unitek’s recycling plant at 91-125 Kaomi Loop. The same equipment caught fire two weeks before, fire Capt. Richard Soo said yesterday.
"Interestingly enough, there was a fire to the same piece of machinery. At this point our investigator is looking at surveillance tapes, trying to determine a cause, and he’s going to check out the report on the earlier fire. At this point he hasn’t ruled out a suspicious cause," Soo said yesterday afternoon.
The blaze was reported at 9:25 a.m., initially as a brush fire, Soo said.
When firefighters from the Kapolei station arrived at the plant, they saw machinery and shredded tires ablaze.
Two other engines and a hazardous materials team were dispatched, and the fire was under control at 9:42 a.m.
The fire generated thick smoke that was blown inland by Kona winds, Soo said.
Residents of Honokai Hale complained, but nothing dangerous was detected by the hazardous materials team, he said.
About 20 firefighters responded to the blaze. The plant processes tires, solvents, anti-freeze and oily wastewater. No one was injured.
[back to top] |
