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Maui Brush Fire Fully Contained But Public Asked To Avoid Burn Area

Ryan Piros
/
Maui County

A fire that burned in the Maalaea Mauka area and forced evacuations and road closures has been 100% contained as of Monday morning, Maui Fire Department said.

The blaze burned a total of 4,600 acres, up from an earlier estimate of 4,100 acres and a number derived using new technology to confirm the affected area, the department said in a news release.

Firefighters first responded to the fire burning on the upper slopes near the North Kihei Road and Honoapiilani Highway intersection at around 9:10 a.m. on Wednesday. Officials described the terrain as extremely steep with limited access to the fire.

Residents on Maalaea Bay Road and Kaheawa Wind Farm workers were evacuated Wednesday and emergency shelters were opened for a time. About 470 people were served at the Maui High and Princess Nahienaena school shelters.

The public is asked to avoid the burn area because kiawe and vegetation are still smoldering, although they are located within the fire's control lines.

Fire crews are continuing to monitor the area.

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