Big Island crews
put stop to brush fireThe blaze consumes
10,000 acres and officials say
that its origin is "suspicious"
HILO >> Big Island firefighters stopped the spread of a brush fire after the blaze burned about 10,000 acres near South Point.
A bulldozer was working on the last section of a fire break, while firefighters extinguished hot spots, Capt. George Van Gieson said yesterday afternoon.
Assistant Fire Chief Lloyd Narimatsu said eight homes near a windmill farm above the blaze were evacuated late Friday afternoon. A home that was under construction was destroyed.
Those evacuated went to a temporary shelter at the Discovery Harbour Community Center.
The fire started shortly before 11:30 a.m. Friday in the beach area at Kaalualu Bay, and was of "suspicious origin," Narimatsu said.
Police were interviewing witnesses in their investigation into how the fire started.
The blaze was in an area inaccessible to most ground units, Narimatsu said. It originally was estimated to cover 400 acres but gusty winds caused it to quickly spread to the west. It crossed South Point Road around 3 p.m. Friday.
The Fire Department helicopter and a private helicopter dropped water on the fire, and bulldozers cut firebreaks, Narimatsu said.
Although no human injuries were reported, Narimatsu said some cattle may have been lost.
Several private vehicles were stranded at the end of South Point Road until they were escorted out by Fire Department personnel.
The burn area was described by fire officials as open range and ranch land with mixed grass, lantana, haole koa and scrub bushes and trees. The land is owned by the state and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, with some of it leased to various ranches.
The fire was the largest on the Big Island in recent years.