Kalama Valley fire hot spots persist

By Suzanne Roig
Advertiser East Honolulu Writer

HAWAI'I KAI — For the third time in as many days, firefighters returned to Kalama Valley yesterday, this time to put out deep-seated hot spots that continue to smolder.

Firefighters with shovels and a backhoe put out hot spots on about 10 acres next to the Hawai'i Kai Golf Course that were scorched by fire Tuesday 30 yards off Kealahou Street.

On Monday, firefighters fought a smaller fire in the same area, near Koko Head Botanical Gardens and Koko Head Stables. No homes were threatened.

Firefighters do not know what started the fires, said Capt. Emmit Kane. The dense wild grass and haole koa trees provide good fuel for brush fires.

"But three fires in three subsequent days is fairly suspicious," Kane said.

Yesterday, the backhoe dug into deep piles of mulch and dried grass that provided fuel to the hot spots so firefighters could spray water into the smoldering areas, Capt. Ed Pablo said.

"Today we're upturning some deep-seated pockets in the soil," Pablo said. "Today's fire is a rekindling of yesterday's (Tuesday). Unless you dig into them, you can't stop them from burning."

The smoldering was expected to be out by the end of the day.

Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com or 395-8831.