Firefighters Sunday and early yesterday were kept busy responding to a rash of rubbish fires, including one that caused about $15,000 in damage to Door of Faith Church and Bible School at 1161 Young St.

Three fire trucks responded to the 2:30 a.m. alarm, and their crews quickly extinguished the fire. The fire couldn't be seen from the road, but neighbors said they saw and smelled smoke before firefighters arrived.

Firefighters prevented the fire from entering the church and surrounding buildings. Most of the damage was to one of the church doors, though the fire also caused electrical damage.

Church Pastor Gavin Lum arrived about 45 minutes after the initial fire call. After a walk-through with firefighters to assess damage, Lum said most of the interior damage was heat- and smoke-related.

"There was some cardboard against an old pew that we had set outside, and it caught fire," Lum said. "I was told there's been maybe three fires set in the area in the last day or so, so they think it may be the work of one person."

Arson detective Tasman McKee also said firefighters were kept busy through the night responding to rubbish fires in the area.

"They told me they've gone to Beretania, down the road, all around here," McKee said.

"Hopefully they'll catch the person or people who did it," Lum said. "But it's not going to affect our services or daily operation."

Reach Dave Dondoneau at ddondoneau@honoluluadvertiser.com.