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The Honolulu Advertiser

Updated at 10:50 a.m., Thursday, September 27, 2007

Big Isle fisherman rescued; Pahoa fire damage at $200K

Advertiser Staff

Big Island firefighters had a busy day yesterday, first extinguishing a structure fire in Pahoa and then rescuing a fisherman who had been swept into the ocean near 'Opihikao.

In the first incident, it took Pahoa firefighters about 10 minutes to put out a fire at 15-0522 Limu St. The fire, which was reported at 1:04 p.m., destroyed a 30- by 40-foot single-story wooden building with an aluminum roof. Officials said the building, which was not occupied, was "fully involved" when firefighters arrived at the scene.

The fire damage was estimated at $200,000.

In the second incident, the Hawaii County helicopter and a rescue swimmer came to the aid of a 42-year-old man who was spotted floating in the ocean holding on to a cooler he was using as a flotation device.

Firefighters received a call for help about 1:55 p.m. and the man was found a few minutes later in ocean waters fronting a graveyard at the bottom of Kamaili Road.

When the county helicopter arrive at the scene, the man was spotted clinging to the cooler and signaling to those aboard the helicopter that he needed help.

The pilot lowered a rescue swimmer into the water who placed the fisherman into a net. Both men were then airlifted to shore.

The rescued man reported no injuries and paramedics were not needed, fire officials said.