Fire burns 10,000 acres on Big Island
By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
Big Island firefighters battled a 10,000-acre brush fire this weekend that threatened homes, forced residents to evacuate and most likely killed horses and cattle grazing on rangeland.
Police and fire officials investigating the cause of the fire yesterday said they considered it suspicious.
Yesterday evening firefighters were still battling the blaze, but it did not appear to be spreading, officials said.
The area that is burning is owned by the state and by the Department of Hawaiian Homes. Some of the area is used by ranchers.
Firefighters said the fire started about 11:30 a.m. Friday at Ka'alu'alu Bay and at first was limited to about 400 acres in an area inaccessible to fire trucks.
The blaze quickly spread, however, as northeast winds gusted up to 30 miles per hour, fanning and pushing the fire to the southwest.
A privately owned helicopter assisted the Fire Department helicopter in dropping water, firefighters said. Also, three privately owned bulldozers built firebreaks along South Point Road.
Nine volunteer firefighters worked alongside 14 Ka'u firefighters, and the Public Works department brought in a 5,000 gallon water tanker.
Despite those efforts, the fire had crossed South Point Road by 3 p.m. Friday, firefighters said.
Authorities closed South Point Road at the Kamaoa junction while police went door to door, evacuating residents and leading them to shelter at Discovery Harbour Community Center.
Later, firefighters had to evacuate people from several vehicles that became stranded along South Point Road.
Firefighters said the deaths of an of some livestock was "probable."
The area is mostly open range and ranch land.
