15 saved from fire in Maunalua Bay

Fifteen people were rescued without injuries Sunday night after jumping off a burning boat in Maunalua Bay.

Many were plucked from the ocean by good Samaritans in a Boston whaler around 6:30 p.m., according to emergency radio transmissions.

The vessel continued to burn and send black smoke into the air at anchor for hours after the rescue.

Honolulu Fire Capt. James Todd said the passengers noticed smoke was coming out of the engine and called for help from another private vessel. The rescuers took the 15 people back to a private residence. Todd said the passengers were in their 20s and 30s.

“The main thing was everyone got back in safe,” Todd said. “The property damage we can stand to lose sometimes, but not the people. We got everyone back.”

Several fire crews, the Air One helicopter and a Coast Guard vessel responded to the fire, which could be seen for miles under a pillar of smoke as dusk fell. The Coast Guard is monitoring the vessel until the flames subside. It’s the owner’s responsibility to provide salvage, Todd said.

Earlier Sunday, firefighters extinguished two brush fires on Oahu, which led to the temporary closing of a hiking trail, gun range and a portion of Farrington Highway.

Honolulu firefighters and police responded to a brush fire at Koko Head District Park that closed the stairway hiking trail and rifle range Sunday afternoon.

The 10-acre fire started at about noon on the east side of Koko Crater Trail, between the trail and rifle range.

Smoke covered the trail as firefighters used a helicopter to drop water on the flames. Police said firefighters evacuated hikers from the trail as it was closed until the fire was put out. Police also temporarily closed the Koko Head Shooting Complex. The trail was reopened when crews left around 5 p.m., Todd said.

Todd said the fire burned about 10 acres, and crews “waited around for a little while just to make sure nothing really flared up before they left.”

Ewa Beach resident Branden Lohrey, 32, said he saw about 10 hikers turned away by police when he arrived at Koko Head District Park around noon Sunday.

“The first firetruck arrived on-site just as we parked, followed by one more truck and a few police vehicles,” he said. “As soon as we started walking, we were turned away from going toward Koko Head stairs by police officers.”

There were no reported injuries and the cause was not determined.

Also on Sunday a different brush fire caused police to close part of Farrington Highway in the town-bound direction in Makakilo.

Two eastbound lanes were closed between Honokai Hale and the Campbell Industrial offramp for firetrucks staging on the roadway. The 2-acre fire was reported at about noon on the ocean side of the highway; firefighters extinguished the fire around 1:30 p.m.

Two companies and two tankers and a battalion chief were sent to the scene.

On Hawaii island, firefighters extinguished a fire early Sunday morning at a former bowling alley in Hilo.

Firefighters responded to the Hilo Lanes building, 777 Kinoole St., at 2:19 a.m. and found a 400-square-foot attached storage area engulfed in flames, firefighters said.

The first units on scene quickly brought the fire under control and limited damage to the vacant main building. The damage was estimated at $40,000. The cause was not determined.