Beach fires are
illegal, state warns
As warmer weather sends more people to Hawaii's beaches, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources is reminding the public that it is illegal to have fires or drive on Hawaii's beaches.
Department Director Peter Young noted that a young boy on Maui was seriously injured recently by hidden embers from a fire on a beach.
"Injuries on the beach from unauthorized fires are preventable," Young said. "If anything good can come from this, we hope people will take the responsibility to follow the rules in the future and stop the senseless act of starting fires on the beach and trying to hide the evidence under a shallow layer of sand."
DLNR outdoor fire safety tips:
» Cooking fires are only allowed in devices specifically designed to contain the fires.
» Do not discard hot coals near trees stumps or in undesignated areas. Coals kill tree roots and tree trunks.
» Open fires can escape and cause major fires in adjacent areas.
» Buried coals and nails (from burned wood) can be even more dangerous since people do not know they are there.
To report a violation, call 587-0077 on Oahu. Neighbor island callers can call toll-free by dialing 0 and asking the operator for "Enterprise 5469." Visit www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/Welcome.html.
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