Updated at 6:48 p.m., Thursday, July 13, 2006
Firefighters contain 1,000-acre Leeward fire
Advertiser Staff and News Service
Firefighters this afternoon declared a 1,000-acre brushfire near Makua as contained but not extinguished. No buildings were damaged and the fire was moving away from structures late today.A fire department official said the plan was to pull crews off the fire about 6:30 p.m. and return tomorrow morning.
Four helicopters and dozens of federal and Honolulu Fire Department firefighters today battled the wildfire near the military tracking station at Keawa'ula, also known as Yokohama Bay.
HFD spokesman Kenison Tejada said the fire began 10:30 last night and spread toward Makua Valley.
Large flames approached the U.S. Air Force's Kaena Point Satellite Tracking Station, but firefighters were able to control the fire.
He said two HFD helicopters along with a military and private copter dropped water on the blaze throughout the day.
At mid-afternoon, 60 to 70 firefighters were battling the fire, Tejada said. It was not known what started the fire, he said.
Beaches in the area and portions of Farrington Highway were closed.
