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The Honolulu Advertiser

Updated at 8:20 p.m., Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Hope in Waialua firefight is for calmer winds

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

Wind gusts out of the east swirling around in narrow but deep gulches today expanded the line of a wildfire that has burned 5,000 acres in Waialua.

The larger firefight on the Wai'anae side of Kaukonahua Road is occurring on terrain filled with gulches and mountainside slopes, making it difficult to put in manpower with water lines.

Firefighters are also putting out flareups and hotspots on the Kahuku side of the roadway, where the fire started at 1:41 p.m. Sunday.

Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. Terry Seelig said as of 8 p.m. the Wai'anae side fire continues to spread southeast toward Wheeler/Schofield Barracks as well as maintaining a slow northwest pace on the slopes toward Waialua.

Six helicopters — two contracted by the state, two military, one from HFD and one from the police department — were utilized to today for water drops on the Wai'anae side firefight, said Seeling.

"The wind is driving the fire and our efforts to stop it is ruled by the winds," Seelig said. "When the wind calms down, we'll make progress."

Today's gusts were estimated to be in the 25-35 mph range.

Entering its third night, HFD is in a defensive night mode to protect human life and property.

Smoke from the flames is creating a health hazard on the Wai'anae Coast, and an emergency shelter has been set up at Nanakuli Beach Park.

The Fire Department has 125 firefighters with 27 companies on site.