Posted at 11:40 a.m., Monday, July 16, 2001

Vandals light more fires in Wai'anae

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

Firefighters battled a string of suspicious rubbish fires and brushfires in Wai'anae today, the latest in a series of deliberately set fires on the Leeward Coast.

Since May, eight suspicious blazes have been reported in the Wai'anae area, causing more than $40,000 in damage to area schools.

Today, vandals burned a dumpster at Wai'anae Mall at 3:18 a.m. and set two brushfires at 87-198 Kaukama Road at 5:08 a.m. and 87-195 St. John's Road at 5:26 a.m., fire officials said.

The small fires struck as fire officials anxiously awaited the return of the fire department's only helicopter, which was grounded after an accident Friday.

A large brushfire, coupled by the grounding of the fire helicopter, could make things difficult for O'ahu firefighters, said Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. Richard Soo.

"Air 1 is the tool for water drops which bring the fire under containment," said Soo. He said the helicopter could be repaired as soon as Friday. "Now we have to rely on military helicopters to do the same kind of water drop."

Soo said firefighters already have battled more than six large brushfires this summer and that the Wai'anae area is particularly vulnerable.

"It's very dry out there," Soo said. "It's a cycle thing. The last large brushfire we had in Wai'anae was about three years ago."

In the meantime, fire officials want the public to be careful throwing away cigarettes, matches and other lighted materials.