Firefighters Extinguish Brush Fire

Big Island firefighters responded Saturday, Aug. 20, to a report of a structure fire burning below Māmalahoa Highway in Hōnaunau near the ocean north of the 97-mile marker but instead found themselves battling a brush fire.

The first unit arrived at the scene by 12:46 p.m. Upon their arrival, firefighters observed black smoke coming from the location of the fire, which was about 1.5 miles off the highway. They discovered that a vehicle had burned near a residence and resulted in a brush fire that involved about 1 acre of brush.

Crews attacked the blaze using helicopter bucket drops from the ocean, hand tools and backpack water pumps.

The fire was extinguished by 2:56 p.m. No structures were involved and no injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire is unknown.