Progress made fighting Keamuku wildfires

Firefighters continued to make progress on the two Keamuku wildfires Tuesday, according to authorities.

According to Hawaii County officials, at about 3:30 p.m., the smaller fire by Mamalahoa Highway (Route 190), was about 90% contained, while the larger fire in the interior hills of Keamuku Maneuver Area of Pohakuloa Training Area was about 70% contained.

Combined, the fires have burned between 1,500 and 1,800 acres, and there were no threats to any populated areas.

Significant improvements to the fire breaks around both fires were made Tuesday, according to the U.S. Army. Three Army helicopters from the 25th Infantry Division on Oahu, two UH-60 Blackhawks and a CH-47 Chinook, continued with water bucket drops throughout the day in an effort to control and contain the fires.

The drops totaled tens of thousands of gallons of water. Crews concentrated on reducing the fuel load in various areas near the bulldozer lines, an Army spokeswoman said.