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Honolulu firefighters this morning responded to a large brush fire at Kamehameha Highway and Kamananui Road in Wahiawa that burned about 50 acres.
The Honolulu Fire Department received a 911 call at 11:46 a.m. today about the fire at the intersection. Twenty units, with about 46 personnel, responded, along with five units from the federal fire department.
The first unit arrived on scene about 10 minutes later, according to HFD, and found a large-scale wildland fire moving rapidly due to high winds and dry brush.
The area on fire is known as a homeless encampment with abandoned vehicles and trash, HFD said, and firefighters could hear propane tanks rupturing due to heat from the flames.
Crews established command, secured a water supply, and began attacking the blaze from various angles.
HFD’s Air 2 and 3 helicopters made several water drops, and an aerial surveillance drone directed crews as they battled the fire to prevent its spread.
Other crews were deployed on Kamehameha Highway to protect utility poles threatened by the flames. Hawaiian Electric was asked to shut down power in the area to safeguard the fire crews and utility poles.
The fire was 90% contained at 4:30 p.m. today.
At 12:38 p.m., an HNL.Info alert went out informing motorists that Kamehameha Highway had been closed in both directions between Kamananui Road and Dole Plantation due to a brush fire. The highway has since reopened, according to police.
No injuries, evacuations, or damage to threatened structures were reported from this incident. HFD said the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
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