HILO, Hawai'i — Big Island fire officials suspect that four fires that started almost simultaneously along Waikoloa Road on Wednesday may have been deliberately set.

The fires were reported at 9:23 a.m. and were all between the 8- and 10-mile markers. Fire Chief Darryl Oliveira said a passing motorist came upon the fires while they were still very small, but did not see who might have started them.

"There was nothing around as far as vehicles and no evidence that our inspectors could find," Oliveira said.

The fires prompted the closure of Waikoloa Road, and burned an estimated 20 acres before the 38 firefighters who responded brought the blaze under control at 1:30 p.m.