State briefs for March 13

Maui jail inmates break sprinklers, start small fire

WAILUKU, Maui — Hawaii correctional officials say inmates at a Maui jail broke fire sprinklers and started a small fire inside one module.

State Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Toni Schwartz said in an email Monday many inmates voluntarily came out of the module but there were some holdouts.

Officials say the situation was resolved a little over three hours later.

Maui firefighters also responded to the scene.

Mayor Michael Victorino urged residents to avoid the area.

The department’s website says Maui Community Correctional Center houses detainees before they go to trial. It also provides reintegration programs to prisoners due to be released on Maui.

The jail has been overcrowded, with more than 470 inmates but 301 beds last year.

Honolulu City Council urges rejection of Navy fuel tank plan

HONOLULU — The Honolulu City Council is urging the state Department of Health and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reject the military’s plans to prevent leaks of enormous fuel tanks near Pearl Harbor.

The council on Friday adopted a resolution that urged the agencies to turn down the Navy’s plan to keep its existing single wall tanks at Red Hill.

Honolulu Board of Water Supply Chief Engineer Ernie Lau told council members the single wall option is too risky for the city’s water supply. He says fuel contamination would be very difficult to clean up.

Navy representatives say an existing agreement with the agencies to fix the tanks is working. The Navy says the resolution could complicate matters. It’s concerned the resolution relies on inaccurate information.