More small brushfires flare up in West Oahu
By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Advertiser West O'ahu Writer
| |||
Firefighters in West O'ahu were kept busy yesterday afternoon by a series of small brushfires as arid weather continued to make for fire-prone conditions.
Firefighters were dispatched to five blazes yesterday afternoon, two in Kapolei, two in Waipahu and one in Wai'anae.
None of the fires posed any threat to lives or property, fire Capt. Frank Johnson said, and there was nothing to suggest that any of the fires were intentionally set.
"It's a very, very dry time right now, so anything can happen," he said.
"People need to be very diligent and make sure they clear the brush near their house, cut back the grass as best as they can and make sure there is no rubbish or anything flammable around their homes," Johnson said.
A blaze near the 400 block of Wai'anae Valley Road at about 3:36 p.m. scorched about 3 acres and took about an hour to fight, Johnson said.
Three engine companies, three tankers, a ladder company and the Fire Department helicopter fought that fire.
In Kalaeloa, two fires struck within a mile of each other. The first was reported at Roosevelt Avenue near the Boxer Road intersection about 2:38 p.m. and was extinguished by about 4:55 p.m., fire Capt. Terry Seelig said. That fire burned just under 2 acres, Johnson said.
Another fire struck an area near Midway Street and Saratoga Avenue about 2:38 p.m. It was extinguished about an hour later and burned about 3 acres, Johnson said.
In lower Waipahu, firefighters extinguished a small brushfire on Aniani Place near Farrington Highway that began about noon. It burned less than an acre and was declared extinguished at 12:16 p.m.
About 5 p.m., firefighters were dispatched to a brushfire on Kupuohi Street in Village Park near the freeway. That fire was contained by 5:13 p.m., Seelig said. The size of that fire was not immediately known.
Reach Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com.