Sixty firefighters on the ground, assisted by three helicopters dropping buckets of water, continue to fight a brushfire in Makaha yesterday that had consumed some 300 acres. The fire, which began Friday at around 3 p.m., was about 70 percent contained at 6 p.m., according to fire department spokesman Capt. Frank Johnson.

The fire burned close enough to the Makaha Valley Towers apartments Friday afternoon that fire officials advised residents to leave the buildings to avoid the heavy smoke billowing within 100 yards of the buildings. However, Johnson said, the fire has moved mauka of the apartments and smoke was not a hazard yesterday to residents there.

WAIPAHU FIRE PUTS MAN IN HOSPITAL

One man suffered smoke inhalation and was taken to a hospital yesterday afternoon after a fire at a two-story Waipahu home, said fire Capt. Frank Johnson.

Firefighters responded to a 12:27 p.m. alarm at 94-1241 Peke Place.

Emergency Medical Services spokesman Bryan Cheplic said the man was taken to Hawai'i Medical Center West in stable condition. He said three other people were treated at the scene and released.

Johnson said three engine companies extinguished the fire that began in the kitchen of the single-family residence.

The kitchen was damaged by fire, and the rest of the house received smoke damage, said Johnson. He said the cause and damage estimate had not been determined.