Posted on: Sunday, August 17, 2003

High winds could cause Moloka'i fire to flare up

Advertiser Staff

A Moloka'i fire that has scorched 3,000 acres near Ho'olehua has been reduced to a few hot spots, firefighters said yesterday, but it could flare up again if strong winds return today.

Fire Capt. Steve Legare said eight homes were saved yesterday. "If we had not taken direct action, they would have burned," Legare said.

He said a total of two dozen homes were threatened by the fire. An encampment and house under construction were destroyed, he said. Estimated damage to crops was in the tens of thousands of dollars.

"This fire moved so fast that game birds could not fly away from it," Legare said. "We found them dead in the field."

However he said last night that he thought the worst was over.

"Things are looking good now," said Legare, who said that the origins of the fire appear suspicious.

Legare said about 35 firefighters — including 10 from Maui — had been battling the fire, which started Tuesday between Farrington Avenue near Moloka'i High & Intermediate School and Mo'omomi Avenue. Four helicopters — one under contract to the Maui Fire Department and three private choppers — helped fight the blaze.

Legare praised county public workers, state heavy-equipment operators and a few private citizens who helped build firebreaks and manned the fire line. "Those guys were right up front, fighting the fire," he said.

Firefighters will be back on the scene today.