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The Honolulu Advertiser

Updated at 4:10 p.m., Saturday, July 28, 2007

Crews gain on Waimea brushfire; 3,000 acres charred

Advertiser Staff

Firefighters on the Big Island said they expected to have a brushfire that blackened some 3,000 acres in Waimea fully contained sometime today, according to Civil Defense officials.

Firefighters said the blaze on the makai side of Highway 190, which was reported 1:45 p.m. Friday, was fanned by winds of 15 to 20 miles per hour.

Bulldozers were plowing fire breaks around all sides of the fire. Officials said the fire was about 85 percent contained at around 3:45 today. Volunteer and military firefighters also fought the blaze, and helicopters made water drops in difficult to reach locations.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. There were no reports of buildings damaged or destroyed or injuries.