Maui firefighter swept into storm drain shows ‘signs of progress’

He remains in critical condition at Maui Memorial Medical Center

A Maui County firefighter who was swept hundreds of yards through a storm drain on Friday remains in critical condition but “is slowly making positive and promising signs of progress,” the county said Monday afternoon.

The firefighter, 24-yearold Tre Evans-Dumaran, was responding to flooded homes on Oluea Street in Kihei when he was caught in a 4-foot-wide storm drain and carried by storm waters about 800 yards to where the drain ended near the shoreline at Kulanihakoi Street.

He was rescued and taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center, where he has been in the intensive care unit with multiple life-saving measures in place, the county said.

“We are grateful and humbled by the support of our community and send our deepest appreciation to everyone,” Maui Fire Department Chief Brad Ventura said in a news release Monday. “Tre’s ‘ohana and our family of firefighters, together with our community are at his side in prayer and spirit to help him get through the difficult days ahead of recovery. He’s not out of the woods yet, but every day brings hope and every day we offer our prayers to give him strength.”

Mayor Richard Bissen Jr. added that the community and his own family “are holding Tre in our good thoughts and continuing to pray for his well-being.”

“The days and weeks ahead will be important ones for him and his ‘ohana,” Bissen said. “It’s uplifting that we are all focused on his recovery and encouraged by his progress.”

Evans-Dumaran has been with the department for more than three years, according to the county.

The family is arranging for a GoFundMe page, which is expected to be launched this week.