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Posted: Tuesday, June 19th, 2012 8:53 AM HST

Firefighters battle 2 wildfires in Ka`u

By Ken Hupp - 67AM KPUA News

Firefighters are still trying to contain multiple brushfires that broke out Monday afternoon in Pahala, which have burned over 1,100 acres and forced the evacuation of 15 long-term care residents from Ka`u Hospital. The first fire broke out shortly after 2:00 pm in a macadamia nut orchard below Highway 11 at the 51 mile marker and spread westward, consuming approximately 500 acres by sundown. A second blaze was reported around 2:45 pm inside tall eucalyptus trees and grass along Cane Haul Road. That fire also spread westerly and had burned some 600 acres at last report.