Posted on: Tuesday, September 14, 2004
Big Island brushfire continues to advance
By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Staff Writer
Big Island firefighters last night continued to battle a brushfire near Kawaihae that has forced evacuation of two subdivisions, closed Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway and blackened more than 1,500 acres since Sunday morning.
However, it appeared crews were inching closer to containment. Three bulldozers were working to complete the remaining half-mile section of fire breaks that would circle the blaze, said Lanny Nakano, county assistant civil defense administrator.
The fire was reported at about 11 a.m. Sunday, near the intersection of Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway and Kawaihae Road.
About 50 homes in the Ouli Mutual self-help housing project near Kawaihae were evacuated as a precaution at 1 p.m. Sunday, officials said, and the residents were allowed to return at about 6:30 p.m.
Another 16 homes in the Uplands at Maunakea community were evacuated at about 8:30 p.m. Sunday, when winds and smoke shifted westward. Residents were allowed to return in the morning.
The highway was closed to traffic from Kawaihae Road to Waikaloa Road at 10:40 p.m. Sunday and reopened at 10:30 a.m. yesterday, Nakano said.
Officials said the fire is feeding on fountain grass, an invasive weed that thrives after previous brushfires burn large areas of native vegetation.
As of 6 p.m. yesterday, the fire had not damaged any structures or disrupted electrical or telephone service, Nakano said. The main attack was coming from helicopters dropping water.
"Residents and tourists are being advised to be on alert for smoke and fire hazard," he said.
Firefighters have not determined how the fire started.
"But it appeared to have started along the side of the highway, and 80 percent of the time we have a roadside fire in South Kohala, it's the result of a discarded cigarette or fireworks, or in some cases, a hot catalytic converter on a car or a truck," said Big Island Fire Chief Darryl Oliveira.
Advertiser staff writer David Waite contributed to this report. Reach Timothy Hurley at (808) 244-4880 or thurley@honoluluadvertiser.com.
