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Wildfire burns over 90 acres of vegetation on Capital Hill
Another bush fire in Papago
A huge wildland fire rages in the jungle area behind Miller Estates in Capital Hill on Monday night. As of Tuesday night, the fire spread and is still raging in Wireless Ridge and Talafofo, sweeping about 90 to 100 acres of vegetation. Another bush fire also occurred in Papago yesterday. (Ferdie de la Torre)
A huge wildland fire swept about 90 to 100 acres of vegetation on Capital Hill, Wireless Ridge, and Talafofo for over 24 hours starting Monday afternoon to last night. A separate bush fire also broke out yesterday in Papago.
As of 6pm, the fire was still raging in Wireless Ridge and Talafofo. As of press time, the Papago bush fire was already extinguished.
Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services spokesman Derek Gersonde said no one was injured and no house or structure was burned in both fires.
Gersonde said the rain at about 5pm helped a lot in slowing down the fire.
Gersonde said firefighters and fire engines were monitoring the houses near the affected areas to make sure they don’t catch on fire.
Gersonde said if the fire will not be extinguished by morning today, Wednesday, over 100 acres of vegetation will be wiped out.
One acre is a size of a football field, according to Gersonde.
Gersonde said the Capital Hill fire of still unknown cause began at 5pm on Monday.
Asked why it takes so long to extinguish the fire, Gersonde said the area is located deep in the jungle and grass is dry.
Gersonde urged anyone who is asthmatic or has health concerns due to smoke to call 911 or the Fire Station in Susupe at 664-9004 or 664-9003.
As of 9pm on Monday, some employees of Best Sunshine International, Ltd., who are staying at Miller Estates on Capital Hill, were preparing to evacuate as the fire was just behind their compound. Fortunately, wind direction and firefighters prevented the blaze from spreading to the apartment units and other houses in the area.
One of the residents at Miller Estates said it’s the first time in his nine-month stay that they saw such fire in that area.
Another resident said she saw thick smoke from the jungle area followed by fire.
In February 2015, wildfire burned about 15 to 20 acres of vegetation in Wireless Ridge.
