KAILUA-KONA — No injuries were reported following a truck fire Friday morning at the top of Halekii Street in South Kona.
The Hawaii Fire Department said an engine and medic from Captain Cook responded to the scene.
Elizabeth Dacus, who was at the Kealakekua Post Office, said she was on the phone a little after 8:30 a.m. when she noticed the truck prepare to make a right turn off Halekii Street where it meets Mamalahoa Highway, “and there was much smoke coming out the front of the vehicle.”
The occupants exited the truck and pulled out a fire extinguisher.
“Because at that point, there was flames in the front of the vehicle,” Dacus said.
At first it appeared they had extinguished the blaze, she said, “and then the flames started again even bigger.”
Emergency responders eventually arrived and worked to control the situation.
Southbound traffic on Mamalahoa Highway was temporarily routed through the Kealakekua Post Office.
The scene appeared to be under control by 9 a.m.