STAR-BULLETIN The extensive perimeter of a brush fire in Waialua last week made it difficult for firefighters to contain it quickly, Fire Chief Kenneth Silva said yesterday. Here, a military helicopter makes a water drop in the hills above Waialua.

Feds will help pay tab from humongous blaze

One fire official says the conflagration that hit Waialua was the largest he has seen

The brush fire that scorched more than 7,000 acres in Waialua no longer poses a threat, but recovery will take time and federal dollars, city officials announced yesterday.

Fire Capt. Frank Johnson said firefighters and a fire helicopter were monitoring hot spots yesterday, but the perimeter has cooled down to safe levels.

At a news conference yesterday morning, Fire Chief Kenneth Silva said the brush fire caused more damage than any other blaze he has seen.

"Durationwise, I've seen fires that have gone longer," Silva said, "but as far as the extent of the acreage, this is the biggest one that I've experienced."

About a third of the Honolulu Fire Department -- more than 125 firefighters -- battled the blaze that started Aug. 12, said Mayor Mufi Hannemann.

The city will receive a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help pay for the costs incurred from the brush fire, including personnel overtime and damage to equipment, officials said.

Though there was no cost estimate available yesterday, a city Department of Emergency Management official said the city will pay for 25 percent of the expenses and FEMA will reimburse the city for the other 75 percent.

Hannemann said the city will also help farmers, some of whom reported losing thousands of dollars of crops, apply for federal recovery grants.

While Hannemann commended the many firefighters and workers from other agencies who helped tame the blaze, Silva said the department will review its performance with an eye on ways to improve.

Silva said he will review existing fire codes to see whether they are adequate to protect homes from similar brush fires.

City Councilman Donovan Dela Cruz, for the third time, introduced a bill last week that will require owners of agricultural land to create fire breaks to prevent such large brush fires like this one.

Silva said this fire took even longer than normal to contain because of the extensive perimeter.

"Because the fire front was so long, we couldn't really contain it within a short period of time like we normally can," Silva said. "When we thought we had a handle on it, the fire would switch directions and it would hit new fuel."

The fire started off Kamehameha Highway near the road to Helemano Military Reservation, and its cause is still under investigation, Silva said.

Hannemann added that plans for a new fire station are under way in Haleiwa, and the city is looking for a location. Next year the city also plans on better equipping the Fire Department, including buying three new engines.

"This was a very challenging fire, but I believe we are well on our way again," Hannemann said. "Should we have these types of situations occur again, I'm very confident that our fire department will be able to bring these fires under control."