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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 11:38 a.m., Monday, February 24, 2003

Lightning sparks Big Island fires

Advertiser Staff

Big Island firefighters today were battling to contain two brush fires about 12 miles apart in the Ka'u District. Lightning strikes yesterday started both fires, said East Hawai'i Assistant Fire Chief Lloyd Narimatsu.

Both Big Island Fire Department helicopters and two tanker companies were assigned to the bigger firefight, which has burned over 500 acres between Ka'amiami Beach and Highway 11. The area is covered with short grass and lava roack and is inaccessible. The helicopter and tanker units were trying to keep the fire from spreading to a macadamia nut orchard near the highway, said Narimatsu.

The fire started yesterday at 12:44 p.m.

The second firefight was being waged in state forest land about two miles in from Highway 11. Forestry personnel from the state's Department of Land & Natural Resources are being assisted by county firefighters in that firefight, which started yesterday at 10:04 a.m.