Sand Island fire seen for miles

HONOLULU (KHON2) — More than 50 firefighters responded to the blaze at 50 Sand Island Access Road just before 6:30 this morning. Only 10 minutes after the first call came in.

Thick, black smoke billowed into the sky, and witnesses say flames were 20 to 30 feet high.
But despite HFD’s rapid response, a lack of fire hydrants in the immediate area delayed their ability to get water on the flames.

“We train for these situations,” said HFD Fire Captain Randall Lindsey. “There’s actually two more trucks in line with this truck pumping the same water coming out of this hydrant. It’s the same water going out to the fire, probably 2000 feet down the road.”

The pipes that caught on fire belong to Frank Collucio Construction and are likely used to repair sewer lines.

“According to the owner, there was about a half a mile worth. I’m not sure what length or how many lengths for the pipe, supposedly four feet in diameter,” said Lindsey.

The fire was burning so hot firefighters from the state’s airport division were also called in to put down the flames with foam, if needed.

“Plastic, in general, is hard to extinguish. Sometimes water doesn’t work.”

Hazardous materials crews were also called in due to the nature of the fire and heavy black smoke produced by it. They gave the all-clear a short time later.

“They found zero ppm or no particles that are harmful chemicals, so they did that at the scene and also it downstream downwind and also conducted air monitoring.”

The fire was extinguished at 10:25 a.m., and no injuries were reported. Fire investigators are now trying to determine the cause of the fire.