Posted on: Monday, October 1, 2001

Mystery fires plague O'ahu

By Walter Wright
Advertiser Staff Writer

A "fire bug" may be responsible for a series of brush fires during the past week, including three yesterday in Central O'ahu, Honolulu firefighters said.

A fire broke out about 12:45 p.m. yesterday near the Okinawan Cultural Center, closing the Mililani-bound lanes of Kamehameha Highway near Ka Uka Boulevard until 3 p.m. A second fire broke out nearby about half an hour later, and a third was reported near Lake Wilson about 2:45 p.m.

On Wednesday, five fire companies responded to a blaze around 10:30 a.m. on the Wai'anae side of the H-2 Freeway near the Ka Uka Boulevard off ramp. They had it under control in three hours. But within half an hour, a similar fire broke out on the opposite side of the freeway, said Fire Capt. Richard Soo, department spokesman.

Wednesday's blazes were followed by a 10:30 a.m. blaze off Ka Uka on Thursday near Lake Wilson, and a 3 p.m. brush fire on Uke'e Street that came dangerously close to the Okinawan Center, and — as that fire wound down — another fire across the road in a pile of scrapped plywood, Soo said.

Soo said fire captains indicated the series may have started as long as two weeks ago.

He asked that anyone with information about the fires call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.

Anyone who sees a fire being set or breaking out should immediately call 911, Soo said.