Postcards from a fire zone

Ron Batkiewicz, a friend of the Benedictine Monastery in Waialua which was threatened by last month’s huge north shore brushfire, sent in these photos to the Hawaii Catholic Herald. The fire, which burned Aug. 12-21 scorching more than 7,000 acres, came within a half mile of the monastery. Most of the community members evacuated when the flames were close and out of control, though superior Father David Barfknecht stayed to keep an eye on the place. Top, shows the smoke and fire on the flanks of the Waianae Range. The fire-fighting helicopter collected water from a reservoir about half a mile east of the monastery. The monastery is shown in a haze below. Fire investigators determined that the fire was intentionally set. No injuries were reported or homes damaged.