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KAILUA-KONA,>> Big Island Fire Chief Darryl Oliveira says Hawaii County spent $470,000 extinguishing three fires in South Kona.
The figure doesn’t include $160,000 in assistance provided by the National Park Service, the Army’s Pohakuloa Training Area and the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Oliveira says lightning apparently ignited fires at the Yee Hop and Hokukano ranches that covered more than 1,400 acres between Dec. 17 and Jan. 7.
He says officials have not determined the cause of the Kealakekua Mauka fire. It broke out Dec. 27 and consumed about 1,800 acres before being extinguished in February.
Oliveira says the fire department will work with South Kona ranchers to determine how better to handle future fires.
