CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM A burned-out car framed Honolulu firefighters as they mopped up a brush fire yesterday near Ala Hema Street in Waianae. It was reported that a motorcycle rider in a white T-shirt was in the area before the blazes began.

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Arson suspected
in 2 Leeward wildfires

Four separate blazes keep
firefighters busy, but mauka
winds help keep homes safe

Two brush fires on the Leeward Coast may have been intentionally set, a fire spokesman said yesterday.

Firefighters responded to four separate brush fires on the Leeward Coast during the day, the largest occurring at 10:30 a.m. near Ala Hema Street.

Five tankers and 11 companies responded to the blaze that destroyed 50 acres of brush, one of the largest so far this year, fire Capt. Kenison Tejada said.

Nearly 50 firefighters brought the blaze under control by noon, but firefighters were still battling smoldering spots two hours later, Tejada said.

He said there were two points burning in the area, which indicated to investigators that the fire was intentionally set. However, the fire did not threaten any homes as winds blew flames toward the valley.

An earlier fire burned about four acres of brush in Nanakuli about 8:30 a.m. near Helelua Street. Six companies responded and about 24 firefighters had the fire under control by 9:10 a.m.

Tejada said the fire was also believed to be intentionally set.

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM A Honolulu firefighter took care of smoldering spots yesterday after a brush fire near Ala Hema Street behind Waianae Intermediate School in Waianae.

A brush fire near Kapolei Parkway reported about 11:52 a.m. was extinguished about one hour later.

Another brush fire occurred near Maili Point near Kaukama Road about the same time. Firefighters extinguished that fire in 15 minutes.

Tejada said brush fire season normally starts in May. Last year, firefighters had a slow brush fire season due to the rain.

Fire Capt. Emmit Kane said vegetation and weather are two of several factors that contribute to brush fires.

"We don't know what tomorrow will hold," Kane said. "We might get a lot of rain during the summer."