Posted on: Saturday, May 25, 2002

Third copter deployed to fight Kilauea fire

Advertiser Staff

VOLCANO, Hawai'i — National Park Service firefighters struggled for a seventh consecutive day to put out a fire on the lower slopes of Kilauea volcano, using a third helicopter in yesterday's effort to prevent a flare-up and wildfire like last weekend's.

Park spokesman Jim Gale said about five more acres were burned, beyond the 880 acres last weekend. Crews continued their efforts to establish a firebreak.

An estimated 50 federal firefighters are involved.

The fire has been considered dangerous because of flare-ups, plus declining rainfall over the past two days.

The national park uses only its own trained and certified firefighters in an effort to minimize injuries.