Posted at 7:56 p.m., Saturday, July 13, 2002
Firefighters still battling Pearl City brush fire
Advertiser Staff
Firefighters and Army helicopter pilots are expected to return to the hills above Pearl City tomorrow to continue fighting a brush fire that has been burning since yesterday."We'll be back to do the recon at 7:30 a.m.," said Fire Capt. Kenison Tejada.
Tejada said tonight that the fire had consumed about 35 acres of ground cover and trees, and firefighters worked today to push it back from the tree line.
While firefighters worked on the ground, the department's Air 1 helicopter was joined by two of the Army's UH-60 Blackhawks, which dropped water from above.
The Blackhawk helicopters carried 500-gallon buckets, according to a statement issued by the Army's 25th Infantry Division (Light).
Tejada said the fire is burning at the end of Komo Mai Drive, near the beginning of Manana Trail, and is two miles from the closest house.
Firefighters asked that hikers stay off Manana Trail until the brush fire is completely extinguished.
Residents of Pearl City and Pacific Palasades may have continued to smell smoke throughout the night, Tejada said, but no homes were threatened.
