Smoke rises from a brushfire both mauka and makai of Highway 11 in Punaluu as seen looking North-East from Honuapo. Photography by Baron Sekiya | Hawaii 24/7

Big Island police are asking for the public’s help in providing information about three suspicious brushfires in the PunaluÊ»u area of Kaʻū in the span of a week.

The August 3, August 7 and August 8 fires were located along Highway 11 in the area of the 55- and 56-mile markers and appear to have been set intentionally.

Police ask that anyone with information about the fires or about any suspicious persons in those areas call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.