Authorities had not determined Thursday what caused a rubbish fire under the Nimitz viaduct that damaged fiber-optic lines carrying phone, internet and cable TV service, causing widespread disruptions most of Thursday for T-Mobile, Spectrum and Hawaiian Telcom customers.
The fire occurred shortly before 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, when 15 firefighters responded and extinguished the blaze just after 11 p.m.
Capt. David Jenkins, spokesman for the Honolulu Fire Department, said fire investigators were not called out to what at the time was considered a routine rubbish fire put out in half an hour. He said the impact on utility service was not known at the time.
“The size and scope of the impact wasn’t apparent at the time of the fire,” Jenkins said.
Over the years, he said, rubbish fires in the area have been associated with accumulated trash at homeless encampments.