HAWAII POLICE DEPARTMENT
NORTH KOHALA PATROL DISTRICT
CAPTAIN LAWRENCE BALBERDE
PHONE: 889-6540
JULY 12, 2005

MEDIA RELEASE

A brush fire has forced the closing of about eight miles of the Akoni Pule Highway (Route 270) in North Kohala.

On Tuesday morning (July 12, 2005), police closed the road between the seven-mile marker near the Kohala Estates and the 15-mile marker by Mahukona Beach Road. Officers are warning motorists to avoid the brush fire area.

Fire and police units responded to a 6 a.m. report of a brush fire in the Lapakahi State Historical Park and closed the portion of the highway.

At about 7:45 a.m., officers at the scene reported that the fire was out of control and that from 75 to 100 acres of land had been burned or was burning.

There was no immediate estimate of when the highway may be reopened.

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