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The Honolulu Advertiser

Updated at 9:13 a.m., Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Firefighters have yet to contain 3,000-acre brushfire

Advertiser Staff

Approximately 40 firefighters are continuing to battle the largest brushfire so far the year on O'ahu near Waialua.

Eight engine companies, four tanker trucks and two brushfire trucks are at the scene this morning, said Fire Capt. Terry Seelig.

Also, five helicopters are dropping water on the blaze, which is not yet under control, Seelig said. He said two helicopters under contract with the state and two provided by the Army have joined with the Fire Department's lone helicopter.

"The plan for today is to have the helicopter fight the fire in the upper elevations on the flanks of (Mount) Ka'ala and to have the firefighters on the ground protect homes and other structures in and around Waialua," Seelig said.

So far, the fire has burned more than 3,000 acres but there have been no injuries and no structures have been damaged or destroyed.

The fire broke out about 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

Seelig said firefighters got a break during the night when winds subsided a bit and stopped pushing the fire toward residential areas.

Many of the fire units were allowed to return to their stations briefly this morning to resupply, but were dispatched back to the area at about 8:15 a.m.

A command center has been set up near the Poamoho farm lots, just to the north of the University of Hawai'i agricultural research farm adjacent to Kaukonahua Road.

The road, which runs between Schofield Barracks and Waialua, remains closed today to facilitate fire fighting operations.