Big Island fire
forces evacuation

Residents of about 40 homes in
Kona Acres have to flee for safety

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Star-Bulletin staff

Big Island firefighters continued battling a brush fire today that has blackened 1,000 acres and caused the partial evacuation of the Kona Acres subdivision yesterday.

The blaze which was reported at 2:40 p.m. near the Costco store in the Kaloko Light Industrial Area was brought under control at about 8:30 p.m., Assistant Fire Chief Wayne Awai said.

But during the night it jumped a fire break and continued spreading northward toward Kona Palisades subdivision, Civil Defense official Bruce Butts said. There was no immediate danger to homes, but residents were advised by radio announcements that there could be problems with smoke inhalation, he said.

The Fire Department brought in two bulldozers to cut firebreaks in the medium-size brush, Butts said. Thirty-five firefighters were working on the blaze this morning, he said.

Yesterday, three companies, two tankers and two helicopters battled the blaze. Most units were sent back at about 8:30 p.m. One company remained on scene to monitor the situation.

Police evacuated about 40 Kona Acres homes just before 4:30 p.m. when the fire was about a mile away. By 6:30, residents were told they could return to their homes but were warned another evacuation was possible.

A fire dispatcher said winds were initially nonexistent but had picked up to about 12 miles an hour. They died down later in the evening.

The cause of the brush fire was not known.