FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@ STARBULLETIN.COM
Heavy rains and gusty winds combined to chase Brian and Claire Joyce, visitors from California, off Kapiolani Beach Park near Kapahulu groin yesterday.
Wet weather gives HFD
New Year’s breakFirefighters responded to 6
fireworks-related fires, down
from 50 they fought last year
Soggy weather acted like a natural fire retardant as fireworks and smoke filled Oahu's skies New Year's Eve, but sparked far fewer fires than a year ago.
Between midnight Tuesday and midnight Wednesday, the Honolulu Fire Department responded to six fireworks-related fires, compared with 50 fires in the same time period last year, said Fire Capt. Kenison Tejada.
Between midnight and 8 a.m. New Year's Day there were 13 fireworks-related fires, compared with 15 last year. Tejada reported that there were no brush fires for the first eight hours of New Year's Day 2004.
"The wet weather was a major factor," Tejada said. "The brush was already green and everything was wet."
In 2002, fireworks triggered fires in dry brush. Fires this year consisted of two car fires and several Dumpster and trash fires.
A year ago, brush was so dry firefighters responded to 43 brush fires in the 32 hours ended at 8 a.m. New Year's Day. This year in the same time period there were two brush fires. The fire department did not indicate how many of these brush fires were related to fireworks.
Tejada said there were no reported serious injuries from fireworks this year. There was one fireworks-related medical call, but the injury was not identified. Last year there was also one medical call.
The worst fireworks-related incident occurred when witnesses say someone threw fireworks through a window into a vacant home in Papakolea.
Tejada said the curtains caught on fire and gutted the A-frame home at 2211 Anianiku St. About 20 firefighters fought the blaze that broke out at 1:05 a.m. Damage was estimated at $150,000. Tejada said the home was empty because the owner was getting ready to move into the house. The fire is still under investigation.
Tejada said there was plenty of smoke from fireworks, particularly in areas such as Mililani, Aiea and Pearl City. He said fire trucks traveling through Mililani reported difficulty driving because of poor visibility.
"In really populated areas the smoke was really just hanging. You could not see cars until they were almost on top of you," Tejada said, adding he had trouble driving in the Kalihi area.
