Kane'ohe brush fire contained
By Zenaida Serrano Espanol
Advertiser Staff Writer
A stubborn brush fire near Marine Corps Base Hawai'i in Kane'ohe brought firefighters back for the second consecutive day yesterday, scorching between five and 10 acres before it was contained.
The fire burned several acres on Kalaheo Hillside next to the H-3 Freeway and about a quarter-mile outside the base's main gate.
At midday, smoke drifted across Kane'ohe Bay and the smell reached all the way to the Ko'olau.
While "no homes were threatened," Honolulu Fire Department Capt. Kenison Tejada said, a communications container at the top of a ridge on the hillside received slight paint damage from the flames.
Firefighters contained the fire at about 6 p.m. yesterday, Tejada said.
The area has been the scene of a number of brush fires in recent years. Tejada said the hillside was dry, but not as bad as it could have been.
Officials received the first alarm at about 10:22 p.m. Saturday. Ten city and three federal fire companies responded and contained the fire by about 2:45 a.m. yesterday.
But the brush fire continued, and Honolulu firefighters returned at 9:30 a.m. yesterday with close to 30 personnel and eight units, Tejada said. "The wind was a challenge," he said.
Four federal fire units, as well as two military helicopters dumping thousands of gallons of water, helped fight the blaze. The Marines also sent a contingent of ground troops to secure perimeters near the H-3 Freeway, Tejada said.
The cause of the fire is unknown, Tejada said.
