Blaze-fighting helicopter
pilot hurt in Molokai crash
WAILUKU >> A Windward Aviation helicopter crashed while fighting brush fires on Molokai yesterday afternoon, injuring the pilot.
The pilot, who did not suffer life-threatening injuries, hurt his back and was transported from Molokai to Maui Memorial Hospital, Assistant Fire Chief Gordon Cordeiro said.
"He was doing well," said Dr. Emmett Aluli, a physician at Molokai General Hospital.
Cordeiro said the 38-year-old pilot, a Maui resident, was preparing to fill his water bucket when the helicopter crashed in Palaau in Central Molokai at about 1:15 p.m. He said the helicopter appeared to be a total loss.
Police are investigating the cause of the crash.
Meanwhile, police and fire officials are also investigating five fires that have burned an estimated 1,500 acres of brush land on the Friendly Isle since Wednesday afternoon.
"It's unusual, five different times," Cordeiro said. "We're not happy with this."
He said some Molokai Ranch workers were helping to fight the blaze, and the Red Cross was providing aid to firefighters. Firefighters had contained about 50 percent of a brush fire south of the Molokai Airport.
Cordeiro said that brush fire began Wednesday night and had burned about 400 acres as of last night.
He said the fires never threatened the homes, and fire officials were investigating the causes of the blazes.
The five fires include two that were reported yesterday, one at Hoolehua near milepost marker 5 along Maunaloa Highway and another at Kaluakoi, Cordeiro said.