HONOLULU (AP) — Firefighters were working to contain a brush fire on Oahu that officials say has burned roughly 4 square miles.
HONOLULU (AP) — Firefighters were working to contain a brush fire on Oahu that officials say has burned roughly 4 square miles.
More than 80 firefighters had responded to the blaze in Nanakuli when it was first reported around 3 p.m. Thursday. The fire was still only about 10 percent contained on Sunday, KHON-TV reported (https://bit.ly/1MiNWoT).
Fire officials said windy conditions and steep terrain have made it difficult to extinguish the brush fire, which has spread along a mountain range.
“In the daytime, the wind usually comes down the slope, but at nighttime things change and the wind changes direction and goes upslope so it plays tricks on the fire,” said Honolulu Fire Dept. Capt. James Todd.
One Honolulu Fire Department helicopter and four state helicopters dropped water from the air until nightfall Sunday while ground crews worked to protect nearby homes.
Paul Miguel with the Honolulu Fire Department said crews have done a great job putting out the edge of the fire, but that there are still a lot of hot spots.
Police had closed the westbound lanes of Farrington Highway at Ko Olina Thursday night and informed neighborhood residents of a voluntary evacuation. Firefighters used hoses and hand tools to prevent the fire from reaching the homes and the voluntary evacuation was lifted about two hours later.
No damage or injuries have been reported.