PUUANAHULU — A fire along Highway 190 was contained by a bulldozer-created firebreak Thursday and the firewatch has transitioned to state control, firefighters reported. ADVERTISING PUUANAHULU — A fire along Highway 190 was contained by a bulldozer-created firebreak Thursday and
PUUANAHULU — A fire along Highway 190 was contained by a bulldozer-created firebreak Thursday and the firewatch has transitioned to state control, firefighters reported.
The fire, believed to be started by a lightning strike about 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, consumed just under 1,790 acres, creating thick, smokey air across the west side of the island.
Highway 190 was closed for most of Thursday, but was reopened around 5 p.m. Active blazes was largely gone by 3 p.m., however, numerous hotspots flared up, firefighters reported.
The state took over the fire at 4:30 p.m.
The response included 16 county firefighters, six volunteer firefighters, 24 people from the Division of Forestry and Wildlife and three bulldozer operators.
No injuries or property damage was reported. Around a dozen brush fires have been reported since February during what’s been a dry time of year. Officials suspect arson in several of them.
