Big Island police are investigating a rash of suspicious fires that have burned in the Ka’u district over the last six weeks.
Since June 14, officers have initiated six fire investigations—three of the fires were set in one day. The fires were reported on the following dates:
June 14 (200 square feet)
June 18 (200 square feet)
June 18 (4,500 acres)
June 18 (1,500 acres)
July 13 (10 acres)
July 15 (200 acres)
As a note, Fire Chief Darren Rosario said in an interview just before July 4 that the pattern of fires in Ka’u is one that started some years ago, and then stopped for a while, and has now started up again.
Police ask the public to be diligent in reporting any suspicious activity, especially in the vicinity of any fires or dry brush. Anyone with any information about the fires or suspicious persons is asked to call 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 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
