Brush fire along South Point road

November 22, 2009 - South Point, Hawaii
VIDEO by David Corrigan

A fire on a vacant lot along South Point Road, close to the Kamaoa Road intersection, threatened area homes on Saturday around noontime, as the Hawaii County Fire Department battled the blaze.

The 1-acre vacant lot was difficult for firefighters to access because of the thick brush that surrounded the location. The fire was burning about 200 yards back from the road. Fire officials say various construction and building materials collected by the unknown owner over the years were involved in the fire.

Fire officials say the initial goal was to protect several houses possibly threatened by the brush fire. Water bucket operations were employed to fight the fire, and a private bull dozer owned by Wally Andrade cut a break around the fire to contain it.

Fire crews planned to work throughout the night to fight the fire and keep it within the break area. Salvage and overhaul will start Sunday.

The cause of the fire is unknown, and despite the theory of one South Point area neighbor that it may have been arson, fire officials have yet to say whether or not the cause appeared to be suspicious.