KAILUA-KONA — The Hawaii Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying anyone who might have information about the cause of 10 suspicious fires during the past month and a half. ADVERTISING KAILUA-KONA — The Hawaii Police Department
KAILUA-KONA — The Hawaii Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying anyone who might have information about the cause of 10 suspicious fires during the past month and a half.
The fires were located on Kaiminani Drive in the vicinity of the Ane Keohokalole Highway, the area north of Puuanahulu along Hawaii Belt Road, also known as Highway 190, and the 6-mile marker, and in the area of the 49-mile marker on the Daniel K. Inouye Highway, or New Saddle Road.
The fires were:
• At about 3:25 p.m. Jan. 20, police and firefighters responded to a report of a brush fire on the mauka side of Ane Keohokalole Highway approximately one-half mile north of Kaiminani Drive. Fire personnel extinguished that fire, which burned more than 200 acres of vegetation and dry brush.
• At about 3:17 p.m. Feb. 11, police and firefighters responded to a report of a brush fire on the north side of the Daniel K. Inouye Highway near the 49-mile marker. As emergency personnel were working to extinguish that fire, three additional brush fires were reported along Highway 190 in the areas of mile markers 17, 15 and 14. Fire personnel were able to extinguish those fires, which burned more than 300 acres of vegetation and brush.
• At about 12:06 a.m. Feb. 17, police and firefighters responded to a report of a brush fire on the mauka side of Highway 190 near the 17-mile marker. Fire personnel were able to quickly extinguish that fire, which burned an approximate 200-foot-by-20-foot area of vegetation and dry brush.
• At about 12:17 a.m. Feb. 17, police and firefighters responded to a report of a brush fire on the mauka side of Highway 190 in the area of the 10-mile marker, just north of the Waikoloa Road intersection. Fire personnel were able to quickly extinguish that fire, which burned an approximate 10-foot-by-10-foot area of vegetation and dry brush.
• At about 12:42 a.m. Feb. 17, police and firefighters responded to a report of a brush fire on the mauka side of Highway 190 in the area of the 18-mile marker. Fire personnel were able to extinguish that fire, which burned an undetermined area of vegetation and dry brush.
• At about 2:29 a.m. Feb. 18, police and firefighters responded to a report of a brush fire on the mauka side of Highway 190 in the area of the 6-mile marker, near the Old Saddle Road intersection. Fire personnel were able to quickly extinguish that fire, which burned approximately 1 acre of vegetation and dry brush.
• At about 11:13 a.m. Thursday (March 3), police and firefighters responded to a report of a brush fire on the south side of Kaiminani Drive near Ane Keohokalole Highway. Fire personnel were able to extinguish that fire, which burned an approximate 100-foot-by-30-foot area of vegetation and dry brush.
No structures were damaged nor were any injuries reported as a result of any of the fires. The total extent of the burned property has yet to be determined.
Detectives with the Area II Criminal Investigations Section, along with Hawaii County fire inspectors, have deemed the fires as suspicious in nature and continue to investigate.
The Police Department asks members of the public who frequent Hawaii Belt Road, especially in the areas of Kaiminani Drive in the vicinity of Ane Keohokalole Highway, the Daniel K. Inouye Highway in the vicinity of the 49-mile marker, and Highway 190 between the 6-mile marker and the 14-mile marker, to be aware of the recent fires and to report any suspicious activity in the area immediately by calling 935-3311.
In addition, anyone with any information about the cause of the fires is encouraged to contact Detective Levon Stevens at 326-4646, ext. 275, or Levon.Stevens@hawaiicounty.gov.
Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 and might be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program operated by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
