Firefighting crews have Molokai blaze in check

The brush fire that has been burning on Molokai over the past week was nearly fully contained yesterday as crews from state and federal agencies prepared to pack up and leave, officials said.

Gen Iinuma, Maui County's civil defense administrator, said the fire was “;mostly 100 percent contained”; yesterday, with a formal announcement possible today.

He said the perimeter of the fire has been maintained at the 8,000-acre level, with no further threats to homes or upland endangered species. But he said workers with the Nature Conservancy today would continue to watch out for flare-ups that could put sensitive environmental areas at risk.

“;The focus has really been mopping up right now,”; said Iinuma by telephone last night. “;It's been really great, the last several hours.”;

Aiding Maui County firefighters have been crews from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, the National Park Service and other agencies.

Man, 64, allegedly stabs wife at home

Honolulu police arrested a 64-year-old man on a charge of attempted murder in the second degree in the stabbing of his wife at a Puloku Street address in Waipahu.

People in the home checked after hearing screaming about 12:30 a.m. yesterday and saw the couple struggling over a knife, police said.

“;The victim had already been stabbed several times, once in the neck,”; police said.

Witnesses stopped them and called police. The woman was taken to the hospital in critical condition and was later upgraded to serious condition, police said.

House cleaning offer turns out to be a scam

Big Island police are warning the public about a door-to-door scam targeting senior citizens.

The police department's Community Policing Section is investigating complaints about someone offering a “;lifetime”; house cleaning service as well as pressure washing, rubbish removal and driveway repairs.

The suspect received thousands of dollars for those services and has never fulfilled the agreed-upon work.

For more information, call Officer Frank Mohica at the Community Policing office at 961-8121.