Updated at 4:49 p.m., Sunday, September 24, 2006
Remote Maui brush fire blazes across 3-mile front
Advertiser Staff
A brushfire that started about 11:30 p.m. last night continues to rage along a 3-mile front on the remote south side of Haleakala near Kanaio and Nu'u Landing on Maui.The blaze consists of about three smaller fires and began last night as five separate fires, said Ellen Pelissero, Maui County spokeswoman.
The fire was estimated this afternoon at about 500 acres.
"They've got about a 3-mile front on the fire," she said.
Maui Police and the National Park Service have closed down a portion of Pi'ilani Highway from the Hana side at 'Ohe'o Gulch to the 'Ulupalakua Ranch at the 23-mile marker, she said.
The fire is in a relatively remote area but there are about 10 homes and some ranches there.
Pelissero said 15 to 20 people had voluntarily evacuated from the Kahikinui area, others refused. Some went to the Hana Community Center and others to the Kula Community Center, she said.
Four helicopters, tankers, bulldozers and about 30 fire personnel are currently on the scene. Fire officials are considering calling in the help of military helicopters from O'ahu, but at this point "they are hoping they can handle the fire themselves," she said.
"The good news is the winds are relatively quiet -- they are about 15 to 20 mph. The bad news is that it is just tinder dry over there."
