VIDEO: Honolulu firefighters are battling a large brush fire in Waianae on Thursday morning.
Fire crews first responded to the call at around 1:45 a.m. at the top of Waianae Valley Road. The fire appeared to be heading up the ridge on the Makaha side of the road.
“We’re hoping that it doesn’t jump that ridge,” said HFD Capt. Jeffrey Roache. “It’s going at a very steady rate, but if it’s gonna jump from fuel source to fuel source, which is those pockets of dry vegetation all the way up to the top — once it reaches that, it’s gonna make its way down the other side of the ridge. If that happens, we’re gonna have to place units on that side of the mountain, too.”
Several homes at the bottom of the ridge were evacuated earlier, but residents have since been allowed to return, Honolulu police said.
Officials are urging the public to stay clear of the area as the fire continues to burn.