Posted at 12:35 p.m., Tuesday, July 8, 2003
Firefighters battle four Leeward brush fires
By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer
"They were busy through the night with no breaks," fire communications Capt. Robert Thomas said.
The two stations were assisted at three of the fires by companies from Makakilo, Kapolei, Waikele and Waipahu, said HFD spokesman Capt. Scott Lawson.
Three of the fires were in Ma'ili and the fourth in Nanakuli. In addition to today's early morning responses, there were two brush-fire calls yesterday in Nanakuli and Makaha, at 8:26 a.m. and 5:36 p.m. respectively, signaling the start of the annual summer brush fire season along the Wai'anae Coast.
"It would appear that all were deliberately set," Wai'anae Capt. Francis Nishimura. "It comes in spurts and patterns so when it happens, we're not surprised."
Today's fires caused no property damage and no injuries were reported.
The first alarm today occurred at 12:21 a.m. at an area near 87-0137 Milikami St. in Ma'ili. Eighteen minutes after the initial alarm, Nanakuli firefighters were dispatched from the Milikami Street firefight to battle a brush fire on nearby Linakola Street.
Before those fires were extinguished at about 1:30 a.m., five engine companies and two tankers were fighting a brush fire at 1:05 a.m. near 87-2142 Helelua Place in Nanakuli. Two hours later, Wai'anae and Nanakuli companies were back in Ma'ili, battling the largest of today's early morning fires, near the corner of St. John's Road and Kulaaupuni Street. It was extinguished at 6:09 a.m.
