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The Honolulu Advertiser

Updated at 11:59 a.m., Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Water drops resume as Maui brushfire spreads

Advertiser Staff

LAHAINA, Maui — Three helicopters resumed water drops today on a brushfire that started yesterday above the Puamana subdivision.

The fire is spreading into a state natural reserve and no homes are in danger, officials said. County and state firefighters are battling the fire on the ground.

An estimated 1,000 acres had burned as of nightfall yesterday. One resident of the Puamana subdivision was evacuated yesterday while fire crews worked to save the home, and a family of six was airlifted out of adjoining Kaua'ula Valley as the fire made its way to the remote area.

Heavy equipment from the county, Goodfellow Brothers and West Maui Land Co. is being used to create fire breaks in former sugar cane fields. Hokiokio Place in the Puamana subdivision remains closed to traffic.

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