KAILUA-KONA — Three brush fires ignited on Highway 190 during the weekend appear to be connected, officials confirmed Monday afternoon.
KAILUA-KONA — Three brush fires ignited on Highway 190 during the weekend appear to be connected, officials confirmed Monday afternoon.
The cluster of blazes occurred Saturday and Sunday just outside Kailua-Kona. The first was discovered at about 3:30 p.m. Saturday at about the 29 mile marker on Mamalahoa Highway. The second was hours later at 7:45 p.m. a half-mile up the road.
The third fire was spotted at 1:35 p.m. Sunday at mile marker 30.
The fires were all small in size, said Hawaii Police Department Maj. Robert Wagner.
Wagner said there is indication the blazes are connected based on location, time and apparent ignition method. However, authorities are not disclosing what that method is at this time and there currently are no leads.
Hawaii Fire Department battled a rash of arson fires in the same area early last year, said Battalion Chief Darwin Okinaka.
The brush fires were along Highway 190 between Kailua-Kona and Waimea. They consumed more than 1,100 acres of state and federal lands.
Anyone with information about the fires can call the Police Department’s nonemergency number at 935-3311.
Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300. Crime Stoppers does not record calls or subscribe to any caller ID service. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
Email Tiffany DeMasters at tdemasters@westhawaiitoday.com.