Posted on: Wednesday, February 26, 2003

Fire on Mauna Loa likely contained

Advertiser Staff

State forestry crews were expected last night to have contained a fire that has burned more than 1,800 acres of koa and 'ohi'a forest on the southeast flank of Mauna Loa.

Officials at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said heavy smoke from the fire led some people to believe the volcano was erupting.

About three dozen state firefighters and two helicopters have been battling the blaze in the remote Kapapala Forest Reserve at the 5,000-foot level near the boundary of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. The fire was reported Sunday afternoon, but it is not clear when or how it started, said Jon Giffen, Hawai'i manager for the state Division of Forestry and Wildlife. Because it is in such an isolated region, a lightning strike or other natural cause is suspected, he said.

With lava fields acting as a natural barrier to partially contain the fire, Giffen said crews were focusing on bulldozing a fire break in areas where the fire could spread.

Meanwhile in Pahala, county firefighters reported at 3 p.m. yesterday that they had contained a 2,000-acre brush fire that has been burning since over the weekend. Lightning is suspected of starting that fire as well.