HILO, Hawaii – Its been a challenging dry season for fire fighters with an apparent arsonist in West Hawaii. The needs of the fire department to respond to the ongoing brush fires was recently discussed at a special finance committee meeting of the Hawaii County Council.

MEDIA RELEASE: Hawaii Police

MEDIA RELEASE courtesy Hawaii County Police

Hawaiʻi Island police have initiated arson investigations in connection with three out of four suspicious brushfires over the weekend in West Hawaiʻi.

All four fires were reported between 9:45 a.m. and 4:36 p.m. Sunday (April 10) between the areas of the 8-mile marker and the 26-mile marker off Highway 190 between Kailua-Kona and Waimea. Two are classified as third-degree arson, one is classified as fourth-degree arson and one is currently classified as a fire.

They are the latest of a series of suspicious brushfires in the same area since February.

Police ask the public to call 9-1-1 if they witness any activity that could lead to a brushfire, especially in the West Hawaiʻi area.

The public is also urged to exercise caution and not to throw lit cigarettes from vehicles, as drought conditions in West Hawaiʻi have made vegetation highly flammable.

Police ask anyone who has any information about the suspicious brushfires to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Levon Stevens at 326-4646, extension 275, or levon.stevens@hawaiicounty.gov, of Detective Kayne Kelii at 326-4646, extension 281, or kayne.kelii@hawaiicounty.gov.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

CONTINUING COVERAGE

• Big Island Brush Fires