Waialua brushfire forces some to evacuate

By Mike Gordon
Advertiser Staff Writer

A firefighter sprays water on a brush fire that has burned 200 to 300 acres off Kaukonahua Road near Waialua, prompting officials to urge residents of Hukilau Loop to leave their homes. Gregory Yamamoto • THe Honolulu Advertiser

The brush fire sent a towering plume of smoke above Waialua, in this photo looking north. Chopper 8 • Special to The Advertiser

The fire began about 8 p.m. yesterday further up the gulch near the University of Hawai'i Poamoho Experimental Farm along Kaukonahua Road, said Capt. Kenison Tejada, fire department spokesman.

Firefighters left at 11 p.m. yesterday and were called back at 7:30 a.m. today, he said.

By mid-day today, the fire had burned 200 to 300 acres and firefighters asked residents of Hukilau Loop to "voluntarily evacuate," Tejada said.

Initially the blaze was small, but it picked up overnight.

"The wind took hold of it and pushed it down through the valley and it headed toward Hale'iwa," Tejada said.

The fire mostly burned agriculture land, he said.

Police closed Kaukonahua Road from Thompson Corner to the experimentall station, about a mile, at 9:34 a.m.

Seven fire companies and the Air One helicopter were sent to the battle the blaze, Tejada said.