Vigilance urged in wake of blazes

Recent fires in Wai­alua and Ewa that destroyed two homes and threatened many more were found to be either intentionally set or of undetermined cause — cases that fire officials hope remain isolated.

Tougher arson laws enacted in 2006, sparked by dozens of suspicious brush fires in 2005, seemed to put a damper on deliberately lit fires, fire officials said. But it was more than the stiffer penalties.

"The community reaction helped curtail the activity," said Capt. Terry Seelig, spokes­man for the Hono­lulu Fire Department. "There was a heightened awareness. While there were no property losses, there were many terrifying moments."

To avoid any recurrence, Seelig said the public should remain vigilant.

"Be observant and call as soon as you see any fire, and call if you see any suspicious activity that could be a precursor to fire or an event that starts a fire," he said.

Seven years ago this month, a 450-acre Nana­kuli brush fire was the first of dozens of suspicious blazes in 2005 culminating in a nearly 3,000-acre Nana­kuli brush fire in August of that year. The fires nearly took homes in Nana­kuli and Pale­hua Ridge, forcing residents from their houses, filling homes with smoke and threatening communication towers and military installations. In addition, the fires destroyed native plants in a forest reserve.

Fires on Oahu that year taxed the Fire Department’s resources and were so extensive that the city qualified for a federal grant due to the Nana­kuli fire, surpassing FEMA’s $100,000 threshold for local jurisdictions to qualify for help and the state’s $500,000 threshold.

That year of brush fires prompted the 2006 passage of Hawaii’s first arson law, and another which sets penalties for those who set brush fires that burn 10,000 square feet or more. That law also requires parents or guardians to pay the cost of fighting fires set by minors.

Under that law, which created four levels of arson, first-degree arson is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and $50,000 in fines.

Police say there is no indication the recent cases are related.

On May 7 fire destroyed a storage shed, an inoperable vehicle and the home of a 37-year-old Wai­alua farmer, who was living in a converted tram car. Firefighters rescued a puppy from one of the structures. No fruits or vegetables grown on the farm were destroyed.

Fire investigators determined that fire, reported at 10:55 a.m., appeared to be intentionally set, and the case was turned over to police.

On Tuesday firefighters battled three separate blazes.

The first broke out at 2:40 a.m. at a farm lot on Goodale Avenue in Wai­alua, in which a storage shed and a car were in flames.

While fighting that blaze, two fires broke out about 40 feet away in brush on adjacent farmland, Seelig said. Then two more small brush fires started another 40 yards away. After firefighters doused those flames, another fire broke out 50 yards away.

"It’s obvious to us those were intentionally set because of the location in proximity and time to the original fire," Seelig said. "We can rule out a broadcast fire," in which embers from one fire ignite other fires.

Fire investigators found six different points of ignition.

Police opened an arson investigation into the cause of the six small fires, which the Fire Department classifies as a single event.

A Tuesday afternoon blaze destroyed an Ewa Beach house on Papipi Drive, leaving a family of four homeless.

It appeared to start in the carport and spread to the house, Seelig said, but he would not elaborate on other findings since the case has been turned over to police.

That fire was determined to be intentionally set.

And at 9:40 p.m. Tuesday a wildfire came within 100 feet of Ewa by Gentry homes and within 50 feet of trailers at a Gentry construction yard next to Thomas H. Gentry Community Center.

Strong winds drove the fire toward the Fort Weaver Road end of the field, burning 50 acres of brush.

Firefighters brought that blaze under control in 30 to 45 minutes.

Police urge residents who witness any suspicious activity to call 911, or to report tips about previous activity to Hono­lulu Crime­Stop­pers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cellphone.

Tips from the community led to the apprehension of suspects in the 2009-10 series of wildfires in fallow land above the H-2 freeway near Ka Uka Boulevard, Seelig said.

Aside from the damage to the ecology, the subsequent runoff, the hardship on communities affected by the fire suppression efforts and the smoke, Seelig said fire can cause excruciatingly painful injuries and death.

"Fire is uncontrollable," he said. "Fire will not stay where they think it will."

"That’s why we have got to stop people from starting fires intentionally," he said.