The “mountain climber” turned out to be a white patch of rock on the opposite side of the valley.

“The hiking party called for assistance at 3:22 p.m. because it appeared to them that there was a lone mountain climber in trouble,” Fire Capt. Richard Soo said. “They reported that the climber hadn’t moved for hours, and they thought he was stuck and couldn’t climb up or down.”

Shortly after 5 p.m., threatening weather moved in, so the rescue crews helped escort the 11-member hiking party out of the valley, Soo said.

Neighbor puts out apartment fire

Quick intervention by a neighbor kept a candle fire in a 12-story apartment building near Punchbowl from becoming a full-fledged tragedy Saturday night.

Capt. Richard Soo said a candle burning in the living room of a fourth-floor apartment at 730 Captain Cook Ave. ignited the furniture.

A 60-year-old woman who lives in the apartment noticed the flames and ran out.

The neighbor, a 39-year-old man, ran in and extinguished the blaze by throwing pots of water on it, Soo said.

The man was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation. The woman appeared very anxious and was taken by ambulance to a hospital.

Fire damage was estimated at $1,000 to the contents of the apartment.

Maui brush fire burns 12 acres

A brush fire in a remote area of lower Waiohuli scorched about 12 acres of pasture, authorities said.

Three firefighter crews from Kula, Makawao and Kahului responded to the blaze Saturday, but the area was so remote it took two helicopters making water drops to bring it under control, Assistant Fire Chief Gordon Cordeiro said.

The alarm was received at 11:40 a.m., and the fire was reported under control at 3:21 p.m.

"Luckily, it didn't look like the brush was that thick," Cordeiro said.

He said the fire occurred under a Maui Electric Co. power transmission line.

Fire destroys Puna home

KEA'AU, Hawai'i — Fire destroyed a vacant home in Puna's Orchidland subdivision Saturday morning.

Firefighters said the A-frame structure was burned to the ground in the 7:42 a.m. blaze outside of Kea'au. Fire Capt. Thomas Hauge said the fire, reported by a neighbor, had fully engulfed the house by the time 11 firefighters arrived.

14,425 marijuana plants yanked

Big Island police uprooted more than 14,000 marijuana plants during a five-day eradication effort that ended Friday.

Lt. Henry Tavares, head of the Hilo Vice Section, said Saturday that the 14,425 plants represented a significant increase over previous months.

In May, a three-day operation led to the confiscation of 2,973 plants, police said.

Tavares attributed the increase to the fact that "we are well into the marijuana growing season."

"The maturing plants are taller, which makes them easier to spot from our helicopters flying at 1,000 feet," he said. "The high number of plants also indicates that marijuana is still a major threat to the Big Island."

One suspect was arrested during this past week's operation in Puna, Hilo and North Hilo.

Police were hoping for federal prosecution of the woman, because of the large number of plants found growing on her property and in her indoor growing operation, Tavares said.

Fugitive arrested in Waipahu

Police have arrested a man wanted for a parole revocation warrant for a prior murder conviction.

Galu Vala Jr. was arrested Saturday in Waipahu by Pearl City-based officer and state Department of Public Safety sheriff's officers.