A former Honolulu firefighter was charged today with setting three brushfires near Makapu'u Thursday that closed Kalaniana'ole Highway and contributed to a massive headache for O'ahu motorists.

Kenton F. Leong, 41, was charged with two counts of first-degree arson and one count of second-degree arson, police said. Bail was set at $100,000.

Leong, of Enchanted Lake, was a Honolulu Fire Department firefighter for 17 years and was fired in March, HFD Capt. Terry Selig said. Selig said he could not comment on the circumstances of Leong's termination.

The Makapu'u fires burned about 8 acres of brush on the makai side of Kalaniana'ole Highway along the Ka Iwi scenic shoreline park near the Makapu'u lighthouse.

The highway was closed between the Hawai'i Kai golf course and the entrance to the lighthouse trail for more than an hour.