Arson rises,
with 10 reported in
Kalihi alone

Fires set maliciously rose slightly last month, particularly in neighborhoods plagued by gangs.

With the scorching summer season approaching, fire officials are advising residents about the potential for fires - accidentally or maliciously set.

The Honolulu Fire Department will hold safety fairs in the upcoming weeks to educate the public about the costs and resources wasted on fighting brush fires.

Of particular concern is the arid Waianae Coast, where brush fires have summoned fire companies as far away as Olomana to assist in putting them out, said acting Capt. Ed Wilson of the Honolulu Fire Prevention Bureau.

Brush fires make up one-third of all fires reported here, he said, with most occurring during the summer. From January to March this year, 85 of the 660 fires reported were brush fires, Wilson said.

Police in April investigated 21 cases of arson, up slightly from 19 cases in March and almost double January's number.

Ten purposely set fires were reported in Kalihi, where at least five were caused by homemade firebombs tossed at the homes or cars of youth gang members. The activity appears to be gaining in popularity among rival gang members in Kalihi as well as other communities on Oahu, and police are keeping close watch.

"It's a problem that's slowly picking up," said police Lt. William Kato, whose detail investigates these reports. "It's just a matter of time before someone is seriously hurt or dies."

Four incidents involving so-called Molotov cocktails were reported April 23 - one of them at the same address where an April 5 arson attempt was reported.

Seven other firebombs, six in Waipahu and one in Waianae, were also reported. So far, no one has been seriously injured, and not all the firebombs have resulted in full-blown fires.

"The majority don't do much damage," said police arson Detective Steve Whiting, who handles these cases only if there is substantial damage.

Police suspect damage is minimized partly because the incidents usually occur when residents or neighbors are at home and can put out the fires. Some firebombs are thrown at parked cars and sometimes land in the garage or pavement, where the fire fails to spread.

Earlier this month, however, a Village Park home sustained substantial damage - about $10,000 to the Haalau Street home and $2,000 to its contents.

Neighbors said they heard a crash, then an explosion before spotting a hole in a picture window and a small fire within the house. They managed to extinguish the blaze with a garden hose before firefighters arrived, but damage had already been done.