O'ahu briefs
Advertiser Staff
NORTH SHORE
Brush fire reignites
A brush fire reignited yesterday in a remote area of the North Shore on Aukauka Road.
Twelve firefighters, one battalion captain and the Air 1 helicopter team responded to the blaze at 5:15 p.m, said Capt. Emmit Kane of the Honolulu Fire Department. Firefighters extinguished the blaze by 7:46 p.m.
Some firefighters had to carry up to 60 pounds of water on their backs to fight the fire, Kane said. Helicopter water drops were also conducted, he said.
HONOLULU
Bribe admission contested
A former investigator for the Honolulu Liquor Commission is contesting his admission to accepting bribes.
Eduardo Mina, 73, is one of eight former investigators charged last year with taking bribes from hostess bars and strip clubs between October 2000 to December 2001 in exchange for disregarding violations. The payments ranged from $40 to more than $1,000, totaling about $11,500, according to the indictments.
Mina has asked the court to rule that his statements are not admissible at trial because he was not read his rights and did not give a statement voluntarily.
LEEWARD
Fire damages Makakilo home
A house fire on Auwaea Street in Makakilo last night was confined to one of the home's three bedrooms.
No one was home, said Capt. Emmit Kane of the Honolulu Fire Department.
Firefighters received the call at about 8:36 p.m. and were on the scene by 8:40 p.m. Six companies and a battalion chief responded, and the fire was extinguished by 9:30 p.m., Kane said.
Damage was estimated at $60,000, he said.
Arson suspected at dialysis facility
Fire officials suspect arson was the cause of a weekend blaze at a healthcare facility in Wai'anae.
Fire broke out at the St. Francis Dialysis Facility on Farrington Highway early yesterday, causing an estimated $2,000 in damage, said the Honolulu Fire Department.
EAST HONOLULU
Fire spreads from junked car
Firefighters took about two hours early yesterday to extinguish a brush fire near the Hawai'i Kai Golf Course.
The fire started inside an abandoned auto and spread to the surrounding brush,, said Capt. Emmit Kane of the Honolulu Fire Department. Crews responded to the 2:30 a.m. alarm. The fire caused no injuries or major damage.
