The Hawaii Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying anyone who may have information about the cause of three suspicious fires that occurred Wednesday.
Approximately 12:46 a.m. that morning, police and firefighters responded to a report of a brush fire on Highway 270, also known as Akoni Pule Highway, near the 8.5-mile marker, in the North Kohala District. Upon their arrival to the scene, police observed a second brush fire, also on Highway 270, near the 9-mile marker. A small amount of vegetation and dry brush at each location burned before being extinguished by Hawaii Fire Department personnel.
Around 9:53 a.m., police and firefighters responded to a report of a brush fire on Puako Beach Drive, west of the Queen Kaahumanu Highway, in the South Kohala District. This brush fire required the closure of Puako Beach Drive for approximately two hours as firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze. Approximately 4 acres of vegetation and dry brush burned before being extinguished.
No structures were damaged and no injuries were reported as a result of the fires. At this time, the cause of all three fires remains undetermined.
The Hawaii Police Department urges the public to exercise caution and advise against throwing lit cigarettes or similar items from vehicles as the dry brush and vegetation are highly flammable.
Police also ask that the public be diligent in reporting any suspicious activity that could lead to a brush fire. Anyone with any information about the cause of the fires is asked to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or South Kohala Patrol Officer Paul Nagata at 887-3080.