Updated at 5:32 p.m., Thursday, June 28, 2007
Smoke leads to evacuation at Big Island animal shelter
Advertiser Staff
HILO, Hawai'i — A fire in the green waste area of the solid waste transfer station at Kealakehe generated so much smoke that a portion of the nearby Kona police station was closed and 90 animals were evacuated from the nearby Hawai'i Island Humane Society in Kona.The police station records section closed and other non-essential civilian employees were sent home, but the station itself remained open to the public, police said.
The fire was reported at 11:32 p.m. Wednesday, and the smoke began causing problems when the winds shifted in the northerly direction at about 10 a.m. today.
Civil defense officials said the fire is contained, and does not pose a hazard to any homes or property, but warned motorists and residents in the area to be alert because of the smoke.
