Fire sparks call to shut down illegal junkyard in Wahiawa

Oct 02, 2026

A second big fire at an illegal junkyard on Oahu has pushed state lawmakers and neighbors to demand the place be closed for good — bad news for the operator, and a relief for residents if it works.

  • A huge pile of construction and car waste caught fire, setting off explosions and sending toxic smoke over the neighborhood.
  • With no wind, the smoke sat over homes all night, and neighbors said they had no choice but to breathe it.
  • Dirty water used to fight the fire ran off the site with an oily sheen, heading toward a stream that feeds Pearl Harbor.
  • The site started as a licensed auto salvage yard, then grew into an unpermitted construction waste operation and racked up about half a million dollars in fines.
  • Neighbors say trucks keep dumping waste there despite orders to stop; the company's attorney says it is winding the business down while appealing the fines.

Outlook: State Representative Gregg Takayama wants the site shut immediately, even if it takes the governor's emergency powers, while the health department says enforcement cannot be finalized until its administrative process plays out.

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