Brush fire flanks A brush fire got to the edge of the ethnic gardens of Hawaii's Plantation Village on Waipahu Street yesterday afternoon, damaging a rare tree.
Plantation Village
The fire is contained but not
before it damages a rare treeBy Leila Fujimori
lfujimori@starbulletin.comSix fire companies and the fire department's helicopter responded to the fire, which began about 4:30 p.m. Fire crews had it under control by 6 p.m., said fire Capt. Kenison Tejada.
The brush fire burned portions of a three-acre uncultivated area beyond the gardens, covered with sugar cane-like Johnson grass, which the park does not maintain due to a lack of manpower, according to Lynn Valiente, executive director of the park.
"This grass burns really well, like sugar cane, and flares up pretty good," said incident commander Lloyd Rogers. However, he said the Waikele Stream, which runs behind the gardens, stopped the fire and prevented it from threatening homes on Aniani Place on the opposite side of the stream.
Smoke and soot from the fire blew over Farrington Highway.
The three-acre garden area had been closed at the time of the fire, and no events were being held at the 50-acre cultural park.
Yoshiko Yamauchi, who cares for the garden with her husband, said the gardens tell the story of Hawaii plantation workers. Students who visit the gardens plant and harvest those plants common during the plantation era, including rice, water chestnuts and taro.
A now-rare wi tree, which produces an edible fruit that resembles a green apple, was half burned. A katuday tree, which produces white edible flowers, was destroyed.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.