Brush fire blackens 10 acres

A Saturday afternoon fire scorched 10 acres of Hamakua grassland.

Fourteen units, including a county helicopter, responded to the 1:44 p.m. alarm on Kalopa Makai Road, according to a written Hawaii County Fire Department statement.

Arriving firefighters found the brushfire moving rapidly, fanned by winds. Initial units slowed the fire’s progress and the blaze was extinguished with the help of water drops by the county chopper.

The fire was reported under control at 4 p.m. and extinguished an hour later. No buildings were burned and no injuries were reported.

Two firefighters remained onscene overnight to secure the perimeter and monitor hot spots.