Mo`omomi Blaze

Molokai Fire Department quickly contains first brush fire of 2008.

By Brandon Roberts

High winds and dry vegetation helped spark Molokai’s first brush fire of the season near Mo`omomi. The Molokai Fire Department acted swiftly to contain approximately 350 acres of flames before it could get out-of-hand.

The Mo`omomi blaze was reported around 9:30 a.m. Saturday morning. With the help of two helicopters dumping buckets of water, heavy equipment from the Public Works Department, and all the island’s fire resources, the blaze was contained by 2 p.m. the same day.

Area residents were kept on stand-by for evacuation, however this action was not necessary as crews effectively extinguished the flare-up. There were no injuries reported, and the cause of the fire is currently under investigation. Mahalo loa to the Molokai Fire Department and the Maui choppers for the quick containment.