Fire crews douse brush fire near camp

Firefighters extinguished a brush fire in what appeared to be a homeless encampment Wednesday night in Kihei, a fire official said.

The fire was reported at 9:22 p.m. in a vacant lot near Kio Loop, said Fire Services Chief Edward Taomoto.

Wailea firefighters were on scene at 9:33 p.m. and found a 50-by-50-foot area of brush, kiawe trees and trash burning in what appeared to be a homeless encampment, he said.

Firefighters had the fire under control at 9:44 p.m. and extinguished at 11 p.m.

An engine, ladder and water tanker from Wailea responded. firefighters fought the blaze overnight, a fire official said.

The fire was reported at 7:24 p.m. Wednesday in the field about a half-mile south of Baldwin Avenue, near the old Paia Sugar Mill, said Fire Services Chief Edward Taomoto.

Paia firefighters, on scene within five minutes, could see smoke coming from deep within the field, he said. Fire crews had difficulty finding a route to the fire because of overgrown brush that limited vehicle access but were able to reach the fire and contain it to about 3 acres, Taomoto said.

A burned vehicle was found near the center of the scorched brush, but it was unclear whether the vehicle was involved in starting the fire, he said.

The fire was contained when firefighters left the scene at 2 a.m. Thursday. Taomoto said crews returned to look for hot spots Thursday.

A battalion chief, Paia and Makawao engine companies and Kahului and Wailea water tankers responded to the fire.