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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 1:04 p.m., Thursday, May 12, 2005

Large brush fire spreads to Lualualei Valley

Advertiser Staff

A brush fire that's now consumed more than 1,000 acres has spread to Lualualei Valley after having burned since Tuesday at the back of Nanakuli Valley , the Honolulu Fire Department said.

Firefighters are battling the blaze on two fronts, one in each valley.

Neither fire is threatening homes but firefighters are still concerned that the smoke and haze coupled with 15 mph gusts of wind will create breathing problems for area residents. Because of the haze created by the fire, Nanakuli High School and Intermediate School were closed today.

HFD Capt. Emmit Kane said there is limited water access at the back of Nanakuli Valley and that HFD tankers have been busy shuttling water in to waiting firefighters. Kane said firefighters are hiking in rolls of hose and strapping 60-pound tanks of water to their backs in order to beat out smoldering patches of brush or isolated fires left behind the advancing fire line.

"It's very laborious today," he said.

About 25 percent of HFD's resources are focused on fighting the fire. About 125 firefighters, some from as far away as Hau'ula, including 20 on loan from the military, are working in rotating shifts throughout the day as the fire burns a path across the back bowl of Nanakuli Valley and creeps into Lualualei.The firefighters are being supported by water drops being performed by three military helicopters, HFD's Air One, and an aircraft on loan from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.