Posted on: Monday, March 24, 2003

Two firefighters injured on Big Island

Associated Press

Two Big Island firefighters suffered minor burns before a brushfire could be contained early yesterday in South Kohala.

The two received first-degree burns when wind-blown flames reached their tanker truck at the head of the fire, which covered 400 acres of vacant grassland, officials said.

Firefighters were called to the area Saturday afternoon when the fire was two miles east of Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway and half a mile north of a utility road.

The blaze was contained before it could extend south of the road, officials said.

The effort to stop the spread of the fire involved 24 firefighters and 14 pieces of equipment, including two bulldozers and three helicopters.