Mop-up efforts continue on Punaluu brush fire

Firefighters on Wednesday continued to douse hotspots within a 12-acre brush fire that broke out Tuesday evening on the southern end of Punaluu Beach, according to the Hawaii County Fire Department.

The fire broke out 5:52 p.m. Tuesday in brush on the southern end of Punaluu Beach in Ka’u. When firefighters arrived at the scene the fire was limited to 1/4 acre, however, strong winds fanned the blaze to 12 acres before firefighters got the upper hand Tuesday night.

The fire neither threatened structures nor required a road closure, according to the department.