Brush fire rages, burns 1,900 acres

High winds fuel blaze that started in Haliimaile

A brush fire that started late Tuesday night in Haliimaile had burned about 1,900 acres as of Wednesday afternoon, after crossing Haleakala Highway amid high winds that created challenging conditions for firefighters, officials said.

“High winds especially right now is creating challenges keeping the fire contained through the normal firebreak process,” Maui County Managing Director Sandy Baz said at Mayor Michael Victorino’s COVID19 briefing Wednesday afternoon. “We usually have heavy equipment out there that cuts through the brush to allow for a space distance, and if the winds are high enough, it crosses that.

“The challenge mostly is high winds, at this point, and wanting to make sure our firefighters don’t get caught up in the wrong direction.”

About 40 firefighters, three helicopters and three Maui Fire Department tankers were battling the blaze, along with several bulldozers and water tankers from private companies.

Kahului Airport firefighters were on standby to help, Baz said.

Crews planned to work through the night to contain

the fire, which was 30 percent contained late Wednesday afternoon, according to the Fire Department. Heavy equipment was cutting breaks around the perimeter of the fire, while fire crews worked to secure the perimeter.

Throughout the day, the weather was reported to be clear with strong, steady trade winds estimated at 20 mph with higher gusts.

By noon Wednesday, the fire had burned toward Haleakala Highway, which was closed from Hana Highway to Makani Road at about 1 p.m. At about 3:30 p.m., police closed Pulehu Road between Hansen and Omaopio roads as the fire spread. Nonessential employees were evacuated at the Central Maui Landfill, Maui EKO Systems and HC&D, police said.

Pulehu Road was reopened late Wednesday afternoon, but traffic was slow moving, police said.

Baz asked residents to avoid the area for their safety and that of firefighters. “Let the experts do their job,” he said.

The fire was reported at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday on the makai side of Haliimaile Road near the Maui Trap & Gun Club range and Haleakala Highway. By Wednesday morning, the fire was estimated to have burned 200 acres and to be 30 percent contained.

The cause of the fire was unknown.

The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photos PHOTO ABOVE: Flames leap from a fallow former Haliimaile sugar cane field Wednesday morning. By evening, the brush fire had burned almost 2,000 acres. PHOTO BELOW: Helicopter pilot Don Shearer of Windward Aviation drops water on a section of a brush fire nearing Haliimaile Road on Wednesday morning.

Photo courtesy of the Maui Fire Department This map shows the extent of a brush fire that raged most of the day Wednesday.