Posted at 11 a.m., Monday, July 9, 2001

Waialua brushfire nearly extinguished

The last embers of a brushfire that burned 10 acres above Waialua and engaged 12 fire companies were slowly dying out today, said department spokesman Capt. Richard Soo.

The fire, which broke out yesterday just after noon, burned a remote area of Kaukonahua Road near the University of Hawai'i Poamoho Experimental Farm. Units remained on scene until about 8 p.m.

Firefighters received only two calls — late last night and this morning — about possible flare-ups. Soo said that once a fire is contained, it is left to burn itself out, with helicopter observation flights sometimes used to check back.

"The trees are still burning out there," Soo said. "They are smoldering."