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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 11:11 a.m., Monday, June 2, 2003

Rain helps combat Volcanoes park fire

By Mike Gordon
Advertiser Staff Writer

Rain helped firefighters battling a stubborn brushfire today in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, but authorities predict it will be two or three days before they will contain the blaze.

The Luhi fire, as it's called, has burned about 4,800 acres on the western edge of Kilauea since May 28, said Jack Minassian, the park's fire management officer. The fire, sparked by flowing lava, has remained roughly the same size for the last three days, he said.

"It's looking pretty good," Minassian said. "The weather is in our favor. In fact, we're getting some rain down there."

The fire line is active along a small, one-mile section, Minassian said.

Forty-five firefighters, including U.S. Forest Service crews from the Mendocino National Forest in California, planned to attack "hot spots" today. The Mendocino crews arrived yesterday and will stay for about two weeks.

"The crews are going to start mopping up," he said this morning. "They will hit the hot spots on the perimeter and work in."

When they finish, authorities plan to use helicopters to extinguish the front line of the fire.

Two helicopters were helping today, he said.

The rain was good news for park officials, who had been told last week by the National Weather Service to expect 10 days without rain and low, relative humidity.

"When the weather gets a certain way, there is not much you can do," Minassian said.

Over the past few days, crews have been forced to stomp on hot coals or rub then on the soil in an effort to eliminate spot fires, which can be ignited by embers.

"It is a lot of work," he said.

Reach Mike Gordon at mgordon@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8012.