Police Seek Public’s Help on Ka`u Brush Fires

Yet another fire of undetermined nature in the area around Pahala has prompted Ka`u police to ask for the public’s helping in watching for any suspicious activity.

The department has initiated investigations into six fires of suspicious origin that have occurred in the area since June 14, Ka`u Police Capt. Andrew Burian said in a statement today.

Three of those began on June 18, including a two-week-long blaze that burned 4,500 acres and another that blackened 1,500 acres.

The most recent was discovered late Sunday night. Located on the Upper Cane Haul Road, that fire burned 7.5 acres before firefighters were able to put it out Tuesday.

Acting Capt. Mike Murray of the Pahala fire station today said crews are continuing to extinguish hot spots in the fire that began last Friday in a deep ravine on Lower Moaulu Road. It has burned about 60 acres of dense brush and trees.

Fire investigators have been unable to determine the cause of any of the blazes.

Burian asked the public to be on the lookout for any suspicious activity, especially in the vicinity of any fires or dry brush in the arid and often windy area.

Anyone with information is asked to call the police department’s non-emergency number at 935-3311. Anonymous calls can be made to Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.

Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by private citizens which doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.