Firefighters continue mop-up efforts in Ka’u

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Mop-up efforts continued Wednesday to extinguish a brush fire that consumed more than a dozen acres, as well as a structure, Monday in Ka‘u.

Mop-up efforts continued Wednesday to extinguish a brush fire that consumed more than a dozen acres, as well as a structure, Monday in Ka‘u.

The fire, which broke out around 10:30 a.m. Monday, burned about 15 acres within the Green Sands subdivision on both sides of Kaalualu Road, between Mark Twain and Pele streets, according Hawaii County Fire Department officials. The fire was not fully contained as of Wednesday afternoon through there was no active burning and firefighters worked to douse hot spots and flareups within the burn area.

One structure, an “unpermitted home,” was destroyed by the fire on Monday. Several tents and abandoned vehicles may have also been consumed by the blaze. No injuries were reported.

Officials have determined the fire originated from a nearby residence. Assistant Fire Chief Gantry Andrade said Tuesday that someone was burning rubbish in a 55-gallon drum and the fire apparently got away from the resident.