The blaze, which burned from Jan. 23 to Feb. 5, was started by a discarded cigarette and was one of the state's most devastating wildfires in recent decades, according to the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Since then, the agency's Division of Forestry and Wildlife has been working to remove damaged trees and other hazards and to restore the forest with native trees and other vegetation.

Because Forestry and Wildlife staff were diverted to work on last week's Olowalu brushfire in West Maui, not all of the hazard mitigation work at the Upcountry forest area was completed, officials said, and not all trails or portions of the access road can be opened at this time, as was anticipated.

Still closed are the access road to the ballpark and Skyline Road, the road to Pu'u Keokea, the "switchbacks," the Plum and Haleakala Ridge trails, and the Polipoli spur trail.

A public information meeting on reducing hazards within the burned area and future reforestation management activities will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Kula Community Center.

In the meantime, hikers, hunters, mountain bikers and others are being advised to remain on established roads and trails for their safety.

For more information on the status of the Kula Forest Reserve, call the Division of Forestry and Wildlife's Maui office at (808) 984-8100.