Fire sparks call to shut down illegal junkyard

A fire at an illegal junkyard in Pearl City was nearly extinguished Thursday, but anger over the trash site is intensifying.

Fire response and evacuations

The area’s state representative says authorities should shut down the business, even if it means the state has to clean it up.

The fire, burning a large pile of construction and vehicle waste, set off numerous explosions and generated toxic smoke.

About 50 county and federal firefighters kept their distance, using elevated hoses to douse the flames.

“We’re not necessarily getting in there and digging around except with the excavator,” said Capt. Jacob Pekelo of the Honolulu Fire Department.

“We’re trying to limit the amount of direct exposure our firefighters have to this particular fire.”

Nearby residents endured the latest impacts of the dump they have been complaining about for a year.

“There was no wind, and so the smoke just settled all around our community,” said Andrew Perez.