Fire at Sand Island still smoldering
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• Photo gallery: Sand Island Rubbish Fire
A petroleum-based rubbish fire that released a spectacular black plume of smoke at Keehi Small Boat Harbor continues to smolder this afternoon.
Three Honolulu Fire Department engine companies were dispatched at 11:28 a.m. and had the fire under control at 11:41 a.m., but the debris continues to smolder, Honolulu fire Capt. Terry Seelig said.
Firefighters used their compressed air foam system to control the fire of discarded fiberglass boat materials, Seelig said.
“The fire was mainly fiberglass composition, which is petroleum based and produces a lot of black smoke and a lot of heat,” Seelig said.
The compressed air foam system “is not going to use as much water," he said. "We're right on the edge of the harbor and we don't want the byproducts of the fire carried into the harbor. We want to minimize the environmental impact."
No cause of the fire is expected today.
There is no damage estimate because the discarded material was considered worthless, Seelig said.