The threat of brushfires will likely persist until September or October as dry summer weather leaves open areas parched.

Wildfires at Wa'ahila Ridge and Iroquois Road kept the Honolulu Fire Department busy yesterday, stretching the department's resources.

Firefighters last night also were called to put out three small brushfires near the Wai'anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, at Kaukonahua Road 2 1/2 miles south of Waialua and at the Hawai'i Kai Golf Course.

And with three more months of dry and hot weather expected before autumn rain falls, state and city officials say they expect more brushfires. But they also feel confident that they can call on one another during any coming crisis.

Capt. Terry Seelig, fire department spokesman, said the two fires yesterday strained the department as 50 firefighters, 12 companies and a helicopter fought flames at Wa'ahila Ridge that were contained by 3:15 p.m.

But at 12:35 p.m., during that battle, about 60 HFD personnel were sent to an area north of Iroquois Road and worked alongside military firefighters to get that blaze under control by 2:45 p.m. At 3:23 p.m. a second fire ignited, also near Iroquois Road, requiring seven engines, four tankers, one brush truck and a helicopter.

"We're pretty maxed out on our manpower," Seelig said during the Wa'ahila Ridge fire. "But we still are able to respond."

The National Weather Service said a dry winter is giving way to a drier summer and there's no relief in sight until September or October, when the rainy season usually begins.

"We're expecting the summer to be normal or slightly drier than normal," said Tim Craig, lead forecaster for the weather service. "There's really nothing to indicate otherwise. So it's going to be a long summer."

RESOURCES AVAILABLE

Ninety percent of the fires are caused by people, said Neal Bal, Maui deputy fire chief. If they are more careful, the risk of someone losing their homes — such as was the case last month in Olowalu — would be reduced.

"I expect more fires and the community is quite watchful," Bal said. "Everybody is bracing after that scare with a couple of houses going down. It's a very scary feeling. It's nothing to look forward to."

Under the worst possible condition with multiple large events, the fire department can call up off-duty firefighters if necessary but it also can rely on state and federal firefighters, said Wayne Ching, fire management officer for the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

The counties, state DLNR, National Park Service, Federal Fire Department and the Army have established a mutual aid agreement to respond to fires and cover the cost of their own personnel and resources, Ching said.

Ching said he trains 150 DLNR personnel and about 500 firefighters a year throughout the state to fight wildfires.

"We can respond if resources are available," he said, adding that his crews, made up of trained Forestry and Wildlife personnel, have responded to 26 fires since July 1, 2006, and about 50 percent were on DLNR land. The previous year, they responded to eight fires.

EXTREMELY DRY AREAS

Conditions are dry throughout the state and DLNR is monitoring its land and asking people to be extra careful, Ching said.

Some places, such as Waikoloa on the Big Island, are extremely dry, he said. "It's beyond brown. It's gray. The next step is (flame) orange and black," he said.

Bal, the Maui deputy fire chief, cautioned people to be sure there is a fire when they call to report one. In recent weeks, the department has had numerous false alarms because people didn't take the time to check if there was really a fire where they saw smoke, Bal said.

"If you want to report something with your trusty little cell phone, take the time to slow down, stop and look before you call out the cavalry," he said.

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com.