O'ahu briefs

Advertiser Staff and News Services

LEEWARD

Sewage spills in Nanakuli

Raw sewage flowed into Nanakuli Stream near Nanakuli Beach Park yesterday after rubbish falling through a broken manhole cover led to a blocked a sewage line.

The city was notified of the block at 9:50 a.m. and crews had cleared it by 11:10 a.m., said Craig Nishimura of the city's Department of Environmental Services.

Nearly 2,250 gallons of sewage had poured into the stream. Nishimura said the mouth of the stream was blocked, so the spill remained in pond water. Warning signs were posted and crews cleaned and disinfected the area.

HONOLULU

Kalihi Uka fire believed arson

A fire in a Kalihi Uka business yesterday that endangered a single mother and her children living above appears to be arson, firefighters said.

No one was injured in the early morning blaze in the two-story building at 16555 Laumaile St. Damaged, estimated at $13,000, was minimized through quick thinking by neighbors and fast work by the fire department.

The fire appeared to have set to cover evidence of a burglary at Mike's Electrical, Inc., said Fire Capt. Richard Soo. Office equipment was missing from the business.

Firefighters were called to the scene at 6:32 a.m., but had been told they would be fighting a brush fire. They realized upon arrival that the building was burning, and joined neighbors who were battling the blaze with garden hoses.

Neighbors had also notified the family upstairs that the building was on fire, and occupants were evacuated from the building. Soo said that because the fire was contained so rapidly, the family was able to go back in after fire crews left at 8:30 a.m.

Sprinklers end high-rise fire

Firefighters respond to a fire at 1188 Bishop St. yesterday. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

"Then we looked down and saw a fire truck pull up," said Cindy Denis, a Century Square beautician. "And then a second. And then a third. And then I said, well, maybe we should go."

The building at 1188 Bishop Street was evacuated as smoke began to spread through the hallways on the 22nd floor and a second alarm was called in to the fire department.

Battalion Chief Paul Gerard said the sprinkler system had quickly extinguished the blaze before firefighters arrive on the floor that was affected.

Capt. Richard Soo said the fire had started in the kitchenette of an office under renovation. Fire damage was $7,000. Water damage was not included in that figure. Firefighters worked through the afternoon to clear out water that poured from the sprinkler system and flooded into the 18th through 22 floors.

NORTH SHORE

Lifeguards offer clinic

Ocean safety techniques and rescue procedures will be demonstrated today at the Triple Crown-Surf Lifesaving Clinic.

The free Sunset Beach clinic begins at noon and is being presented by the city's Ocean Safety lifeguards.

Special guests will include surf forecasters Pat Caldwell and Peter Cole, who will highlight advances in prediction procedures, demonstrate the latest high-tech tools and discuss kite-boarding safety.

According to Ocean Safety Lt. Pat Kelly, the purpose of the clinic is to show surfers what they can do to save each other when accidents occur and a lifeguard isn't around. People will also learn what to do if they happen to be the first person on the scene.

Kelly said those interested in attending should look for the lifeguard tent that will be set up at the beach.

For more information, call 638-0230.

CENTRAL

Help needed for cleanup

Organizers of a cleanup of Pouhala Marsh in Waipahu on Saturday are still seeking volunteers.

The Hawai'i Nature Center and the Weed & Seed program are coordinating the cleanup, scheduled from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Volunteers are asked to provide their own work gloves and wear long pants and covered shoes, preferably rubber boots, to enter the marsh.

Pouhala Marsh, a 70-acre wetlands bird sanctuary is off Pearl Harbor's West Loch next to the Ted Makalena Golf Course. The Hawai'i Nature Center will use the site to teach classes for third-graders.

Those interested in helping with the cleanup can call Pauline Kawamata at 955-0100, ext. 18.