Posted on: Monday, July 19, 2004

After six days, firefighters still battling Kunia brushfire

By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer

Firefighters will be working in Kunia this morning to extinguish a brushfire that has burned for six days.

The fire, which is off Kunia Road and near the Hawai'i Country Club, has burned 220 acres and threatens endangered species at the Honouliuli Forest Reserve.

Honolulu Fire Department Capt. Kenison Tejada said the blaze is under control and no longer spreading, but hot spots continue to flare up.

More than 90 rare and endangered plants and animals make their home in the area above the fire, including the 'elepaio, an endangered Hawaiian forest bird.

The lack of a nearby water source has made fighting the fire difficult, Tejada said.

Air One, the HFD helicopter, made trip after trip to drop hundred-gallon loads of water into a portable tank the department had set up on the mountain overlooking the blaze. Firefighters pumped water from the tank onto the fire.

Military helicopters assisted in the battle last week, and Tejada said a state forestry helicopter was working the fire yesterday.

Firefighters also battled a brushfire in Wai'anae yesterday.

Tejada said that fire, in a field behind a row of townhouses on Ala Hena Street, started about 1:30 p.m. Firefighters brought it under control within two hours.

Eight acres burned, Tejada said, but no homes were damaged.

Reach Karen Blakeman at 535-2430 or kblakeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.