WAILUKU, Maui — The Kula Forest Reserve will remain closed for a few months while the fire-ravaged area is made safe again for campers, hikers and hunters.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources yesterday declared the upper Waiohuli fire that burned approximately 1,800 acres in the forest reserve to be controlled.

The fire was ignited Jan. 23 by a cigarette discarded on a hiking trail. It consumed pine and sandalwood trees and rare native plants on the slopes of Haleakala. Rain over the last week "helped to cool hot spots and extinguish burning embers," said DLNR chairman Peter Young.

"Although the fire is under control, there remains a high risk of underground burning, falling trees and weakened or hanging limbs in and around the fire perimeter," he said.

Because of the hazards, the Kula Forest Reserve, including the Ka'ono'ulu Ranch cooperative lease area, Polipoli Springs State Park, all Na Ala Hele trails in the area and the Waipoli access road, above the boundary gate, will remain closed to all activities, including hunting.

Young said 16 miles of hiking trails and approximately six miles of roads were affected by the forest fire, and burned trees are continuing to fall. The DLNR is assessing the need for timber salvage and for clearing the area of hazardous trees.

The department hopes to reopen the areas by May 1.

DLNR's Division of State Parks will cancel existing reservations and not issue new permits for the cabin at Polipoli until the reserve is reopened and the access road can be made safe. An assessment has been done and needed repairs were completed, which included putting in new water pipes.