The Maui News - Weekender

Arson suspected in Puunene fire

Blaze leads to evacuation­s, road, business closures

- By KEHAULANI CERIZO Staff Writer

KAHULUI — Arson was suspected in a separate Puunene brush fire Friday that consumed more than 200 acres and diverted needed resources from the larger South Maui blaze.

The fire, reported at 1:30 p.m. off Hookele Street, quickly escalated due to wind and dry conditions, forcing the evacuation of nearby businesses, such as Target and Lowe’s, and closing major traffic arteries. The blaze was 80 percent contained by 9 p.m. Friday, according to Fire Services Chief Rylan Yatsushiro. The county said 200 acres were consumed as of 6:30 p.m.; it did not have an acreage update at 9:30 p.m.

Maui Police Department released informatio­n Friday night about a “possibly maroon-colored Ford dually-type truck,” early- to mid2000s model with racks, which was seen leaving the Hookele Street fire area on Friday. Police are seeking informatio­n on the driver and on the vehicle.

Already taxed fire personnel were moved from the two-day South Maui blaze to the Puunene site, and Mahi Pono tractor operators and

county, state and private workers used heavy equipment, tankers and helicopter­s in the joint effort.

Yatsushiro said that when crews got to the scene, there was a “well-involved brush fire.”

“This fire was moving really fast,” he said during a news conference. “We have pretty brisk winds in that area.”

Two abandoned structures were destroyed, according to Yatsushiro. No other damage or injuries were reported by the county.

Lowe’s and Target held voluntary evacuation­s, along with other businesses in the Puunene Shopping Center. Puunene School, Puunene Post Office, Feed My Sheep and Maui Economic Opportunit­y also evacuated.

MEO had evacuated the transporta­tion site at Puunene, and office staff relocated to the MEO Family Center in Wailuku, according to Debbie Cabebe, MEO CEO.

Paratransi­t and Human Service Transporta­tion services, which are operated by MEO, had all nonmedical trips canceled for the rest of the day as a result of the fire, Cabebe said.

Target had reopened around 5:30 p.m., but Lowe’s, Starbucks, Fork and Salad, Jersey Mike’s and other area businesses remained closed for the night.

Mahi Pono staff, who were working on farming operations earlier in the day, were moving new tractors and equipment out of harm’s way while assisting firefighti­ng efforts during the blaze Friday afternoon. The Puunene area holds planting plots for Mahi Pono, which purchased 41,000 acres of former sugar cane land from Alexander & Baldwin in December.

Police had closed Pulehu Road between Hookele Street and Hansen Road and Maui Veterans Highway. Hookele Street also was closed to Kiheibound traffic. By 9:30 p.m. Friday, all roadways were reopened, according to Maui police Lt. Gregg Okamoto.

A 40-year-old man was arrested last week for arson following a Kahului brush fire that charred 5 acres behind Walmart on July 3. He was released pending further investigat­ion. Maui police said tips on the Hookele Street fire vehicle and driver can be emailed to fire.damage@mpd.net; via direct message on the MPD Facebook page; or by calling 244-6434.

 ?? The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photos ?? ABOVE: Patty Hickey and Shawn McCall survey the still-smoldering pasture that borders the backyard of their Hoalike Street home in north Kihei after returning Friday morning.
RIGHT: Flames flare to life in a patch of dry grass within 150 yards of the Anthony T. Kaho‘ohanohano Armory on Friday morning.
BOTTOM: Mahi Pono tractor operator Brian Carvalho helps keep a fire under control as smoke fills Puunene land meant for farming on Friday afternoon. Arson is suspected in a brush fire that started off Hookele Street and burned 200 acres by evening.
The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photos ABOVE: Patty Hickey and Shawn McCall survey the still-smoldering pasture that borders the backyard of their Hoalike Street home in north Kihei after returning Friday morning. RIGHT: Flames flare to life in a patch of dry grass within 150 yards of the Anthony T. Kaho‘ohanohano Armory on Friday morning. BOTTOM: Mahi Pono tractor operator Brian Carvalho helps keep a fire under control as smoke fills Puunene land meant for farming on Friday afternoon. Arson is suspected in a brush fire that started off Hookele Street and burned 200 acres by evening.
 ?? The Maui News / KEHAULANI CERIZO photo ??
The Maui News / KEHAULANI CERIZO photo
 ??  ??
 ?? The Maui News / KEHAULANI CERIZO photo ?? TOP: Flames and smoke line the horizon of a Puunene farm field near the former sugar mill. A fast-moving fire steered by strong winds charred 200 acres in the area Friday.
The Maui News / KEHAULANI CERIZO photo TOP: Flames and smoke line the horizon of a Puunene farm field near the former sugar mill. A fast-moving fire steered by strong winds charred 200 acres in the area Friday.
 ?? The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo ?? RIGHT: A Maui Fire Department firefighte­r jumps from one truck to another while helping battle Friday afternoon’s brush fire in Puunene.
The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo RIGHT: A Maui Fire Department firefighte­r jumps from one truck to another while helping battle Friday afternoon’s brush fire in Puunene.

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