MAUI Brush Fire UPDATE

UPDATE: 10:20 p.m.

North Kihei Road is now open in both lanes, but drivers should expect heavy traffic. All evacuees may return home.

However, those seeking shelter in Wailuku should go to War Memorial Gymnasium and not the Velma McWayne Santos Community Center, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency said tonight. The center is only on standby in the event that War Memorial reaches capacity.

UPDATE 5:30 P.M.: South Maui trapped due to fire; evacuation, shelter updates

Kamalii shelter at capacity; Kuihelani, N. Kihei, Mokulele, Hansen roads impacted

South Maui was completely closed off from the rest of the island by mid-afternoon Thursday due to a rapidly progressing brush fire that consumed more than 1,000 acres as it swept from Kahului toward north Kihei due to high winds.

Evacuations were ordered by the county for north Kihei and Maalaea, including areas in Sugar Beach, Kamalani subdivision and residences along Piilani Highway, at about 3 p.m. Thursday. Mayor Michael Victorino held a news conference to give shelter options and road closures before he heading to survey the area via air around 4:30 p.m.

Open shelters include the following:

• Kihei Community Center

• War Memorial Gymnasium

A major brush fire Thursday shut down Kuihelani Highway from Honoapiilani HIghway to Maui Lani Parkway. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo

• Wailuku Community Center

• Velma McWayne Santos Community Center

Kamalii Elementary School reached capacity of about 450 people around 4 p.m., county officials said.

The Fairmont Kealani Wailea has opened up its ballroom for shelter for guests and employees, said Lisa Paulson, executive director of the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association.

Complete road closures include the following:

• Kuihelani Highway at Honoapiilani Highway and Maui Lani Parkway

• Maui Veterans Highway from North Kihei and Hansen Road

• North Kihei Road

• Mokulele Highway

• Hansen Road

The state Department of Transportation reported at 4 p.m. that flights were being diverted from Kahului Airport, which was on generator power. Some airlines were offering travel vouchers.

Emergency 911 calls were being disrupted, said police spokesman Lt. Gregg Okamoto. He urged people to continue to call until they through.

Flames were visible in north Kihei and smoke filled the air in the afternoon, residents reported. Flames were within 100 yards of Maui Veterans Highway at about 2 p.m.

Update 4:15 p.m.: Evacuations in north Kihei, Maalaea due to runaway brush fire; access to Kihei blocked

Kuihelani Highway, Maui Veterans Highway. N. Kihei Road closed; Maui Humane Society animals evacuated to Maui High; flights diverted at Kahului Airport

A brush fire shut down Kuihelani Highway from Honoapiilani Highway to Maui Lani Parkway. The fire was reported at 10:42 a.m., south of the Kuihelani Highway-Waiko Road intersection. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo

https://www.mauinews.com/news/local-news/2019/07/police-kuihelani-highway-in-kahului-closed-due-to-large-brush-fire/

Evacuations were ordered in north Kihei and Maalaea at about 3 p.m. Thursday due to a runaway brush fire that started along Kuihelani Highway on Thursday morning. Access in and out of Kihei was blocked as of 3:15 p.m.

Residents received the “evacuate now” notice on their cellphones. The evacuation was for residents north of Ohukai Road and Maalaea, said county spokesman Brian Perry.

Shelters were to open at 3:30 p.m. at the War Memorial Gym and at 5 p.m. at the Velma McWayne Santos Community Center for Maalaea evacuees, Perry said at 3:15 p.m.

Those evacuating residences in north Kihei could go to a shelter at Kamalii Elementary School, set to open at 3:30 p.m.

The Fairmont Kealani Wailea has opened up its ballroom for shelter for guests and employees, said Lisa Paulson, executive director of the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association.

A major brush fire Thursday shut down Kuihelani Highway from Honoapiilani HIghway to Maui Lani Parkway. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo

The state Department of Transportation reported at 4 p.m. that flights were being diverted from Kahului Airport, which was on generator power.

Flames were visible in north Kihei and smoke filled the air in the afternoon, residents reported. Flames were within 100 yards of Maui Veterans Highway at about 2 p.m.

Kuihelani Highway in both directions between Honoapiilani Highway and Maui Lani Parkway and Maui Veterans Highway from north Kihei and Hansen Road have been closed to traffic and the Maui Humane Society evacuated animals Thursday afternoon due to the large brush fire, according to Perry.

North Kihei Road also was closed meaning, there was no way in or out of Kihei, he said.

The brush fire, which was reported at 10:42 a.m. Thursday, south of the intersection of Kuihelani Highway and Waiko Road, jumped Kuihelani Highway, said Perry at about 12:30 p.m.

Two helicopters were fighting a major brush fire that shut down Kuihelani Highway on Thursday. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo

Winds fanning the flames were estimated at 15 to 20 mph with higher gusts, he said. The fire was moving south across fallow fields with no structures immediately threatened earlier in the day, he said.

The Maui Humane Society, located on the Kuihelani Highway side of Maui Veterans Highway, had earlier said that it was closing for the safety of workers and animals. But at about 1:30 p.m., Humane Society spokeswoman Nancy Willis said in an email: “We are evacuating. We need everyone to bring carriers and help transport to Maui High.”

The agency reported moving crates and kennels of animals to its evacuation site at Maui High School, Perry added. At 2:15 p.m., the evacuation was complete.

At about 2:30 p.m., Kihei-bound traffic on Maui Veterans Highway was closed at the Puunene Baseyard due to thick smoke blowing across the highway, said Perry. Earlier, vehicles had been turning around at the Humane Society. Both lanes of Maui Veterans Highway were later closed.

The Fire Department’s Air One and Two helicopters responded to the scene to make air drops of water. The department has three engines, three tankers and two battalion chiefs on scene. The department also has received assistance with bulldozers from West Maui Land Co., Goodfellow Bros. and the county Department of Public Works.

Traffic was slow on highways in the Central Maui area.

At about 1:30 p.m., Maui Electric Co. spokeswoman Shayna Decker said that the fire was not affecting any equipment or facilities. The Maalaea Power Plant and power lines are in the area of the fire.

“We are monitoring the situation and taking preventative measures, including watering the perimeter of the Maalaea Generating Station,” she said.

Maui firefighters were positioning equipment and personnel to protect the Maalaea Power Plant, Perry said.

At 2:10 p.m., MECO reported a power outage in South Maui. Electricity was restored to majority of customers by 3 p.m. after rerouting power.

The county activated its Emergency Operations Center near the Waiko Road-Kuihelani Highway intersection, Perry said.

Dylan Bonick, who had donned his gas mask after living through fires in California, was taking shelter at Kamalii Elementary School.

“I know what smoke inhalation is,” said the 10-year resident of Kihei. “This is the real deal. I’m not taking any chances. People are going to feel sick in a couple of hours.”

1 thought on “MAUI Brush Fire UPDATE

  1. Thank you for the update. This is a serious issue and North Kihei residents should take this very seriously. Kamalii Elementary is a shelter and as of now (approx. 445pm) it is filled with those seeking safety. Wishing our Kihei people the best.

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