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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Maui family rescued from 1,000-acre fire

Advertiser Staff

A brushfire above a Lahaina subdivision burned an estimated 1,000 acres and prompted the evacuation yesterday of a family from an adjacent valley, a Maui County spokeswoman said.

At 8:45 p.m., the fire was still burning, but it was moving upslope and away from the Puamana subdivision, county spokeswoman Mahina Martin said.

"None of the subdivision homes are in danger," Martin said. Winds were light yesterday, and "our biggest concern right now is if there's a shift in the wind."

The fire was reported at 11:52 a.m. yesterday. Officials did not know what caused it, Martin said.

Yesterday, the fire came within 100 yards of some Puamana homes, and one resident was evacuated.

Later, a helicopter evacuated six members of the Kapu family living in remote Kaua'ula Valley, Martin said.

"It was terrible to be in the helicopter and ride away from your dreams and all that you built," resident Ke'eaumoku Kapu said in a statement released by Maui County.

Firebreak lines were placed to protect the Palakiko family, also in Kaua'ula Valley. "Two backhoes were brought up by Dave Minami of West Maui Land Co. to help us, because the fire at that time was 30 to 40 feet away," Mark Palakiko said.

The Palakikos also used water from a stream that fed into the taro patches to protect their home.

The Palakikos did not require evacuation, Martin said. They have their all-terrain vehicles loaded and are ready to leave if the fire gets too close, she said.

At least four families live in the valley, she said.

A Maui County helicopter and two private copters will resume water drops on the fire today. They did not fly at night for safety reasons.

The fire has moved onto state conservation land, Martin said. Hokiokio Place in the Puamana subdivision remained closed to traffic last night.

In addition to the helicopter crews, about 20 county firefighters, and personnel from the state Division of Forestry and Wildlife, fought the fire.

Maui County Deputy Fire Chief Neal Bal said county firefighters would remain on the scene and keep an eye on the fire for the rest of the night.

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