Hawaii County police are investigating several brush fires in the Kailua-Kona area over the past two weeks. All the fires began in uninhabited brush areas. On Thursday (April 3) a fire on Hualalai Road burned in the direction of an elderly housing complex before being brought under control.

Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying the persons responsible.

In the Hualalai Road fire, a witness saw a male emerge from the brush just before the fire was reported. He is described as Caucasian, about 5-foot-9 and chubby with shoulder-length brown hair and a round face. He was wearing a hat and a blue T-shirt. He is not considered a suspect but might be able to provide information helpful to the investigation.

Police ask anyone who recognizes his description or who saw any suspicious persons or activity in the vicinity of any of the recent fires to call the Criminal Investigations Section at 326-4646, extension 241, or the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.