Blazes stretch firefighter resources
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser
A firefighter yesterday battled a brush fire on the 'Ewa Plain. Fourteen of HFD's 66 units responded to the fire, which began at about 10:15 a.m.
By Scott Ishikawa
Advertiser Staff Writer
A fast-moving brush fire in 'Ewa and a house fire in St. Louis Heights occurring within 45 minutes yesterday drastically stretched the Honolulu Fire Department's resources.
Fourteen of 66 Honolulu fire units and several federal fire units responded to the 'Ewa fire that scorched more than 50 acres near some new 'Ewa-by-Gentry subdivision homes and covered the 'Ewa Plain in smoke. An additional seven Honolulu fire units were sent to the St. Louis Heights fire that destroyed a three-bedroom home.
Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. Richard Soo said nearly a third of the active force was fighting the two fires. "What the brush fire did was thin our manpower, which makes it more difficult for us to respond to other emergencies," he said.
Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser
But the fire department was still able to answer other calls, he said.
A St. Louis Heights house was gutted in a fire that started at 11:03 a.m., and required help from seven HFD units.
A 74-year-old man who lived at 1430 Kalaepohaku St. suffered second-degree burns to his right arm and shoulder trying to put out the fire, Soo said.
Firefighters believe that an unattended pot on the stove may have started the blaze, although it is still under investigation. The fire started at about 11:03 a.m. and was under control at 11:20 a.m.
"The man's wife, also 74, arrived home from the hairdresser and noticed tempura oil boiling over in a pot," Soo said.
The woman woke her husband, and the two escaped. The man then went back inside the home to try and put out the fire with a garden hose. He was taken to The Queen's Medical Center for treatment.
Damage is estimated at $245,000. The American Red Cross is assisting the couple.
The 'Ewa brush fire began in two locations around 10:15 a.m. near Iroquois Point Road and quickly moved toward new homes in the 'Ewa-by-Gentry subdivision, Soo said.
Fire officials said the brush fire was most likely set intentionally. No injuries or property damage were reported. The blaze was extinguished at 1:12 p.m.
