17 MAY 1998. HAWAII: FIRE & DROUGHT

Hugh Clark of the Honolulu Advertiser reports the Big Island of the Hawaii chain has had 147 brush fires so far this year, half of them arsons as the island struggles with one of he worst droughts in years. In Hilo, only 18.3 inches of rain have fallen this year; the normal is 53.3 inches. Elsewhere on the island, rainfall is still 20 - 25 % of normal.

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