Across the island, state forestry officials said a flare-up in the Kula Forest Reserve also was contained yesterday, but the Division of Forestry and Wildlife will shut down access to the forest reserve for at least a month because of drought conditions that helped fuel the fire.

"Current upper leeward Haleakala weather conditions are resulting in rapid drying of forest materials, which may be contributing to fire starts," said John Cumming, Maui District forestry chief, to The Maui News.

The flare-up Thursday was the second to break out this week in a 2,000-acre area that was blackened by a wildland fire in January.

The first fire broke out Wednesday along the Upper Waiohuli Trail in an area of mixed native brush and pine forest, burning about 1,000 square feet, including a section of an inaccessible gulch.

The second broke out Thursday and burned an estimated 8 acres of pine forest below the Waipoli Road about a half mile from the Polipoli Springs State Recreational area. The fire forced the evacuation of four campers from the Polipoli cabin.

In both cases, forestry firefighters suspected the flames were rekindled in pine needles and other debris remaining after the Jan. 29 wildfire that swept across the slopes at Waiohuli and Polipoli. Although the wildfire was reported extinguished a week later, hot spots in the debris in the forest caused several flare-ups before the forest reserve was reopened to the public July 1.

The persistent dry conditions are increasing the potential for new fires, and Cumming said the reserve will need to remain closed for a month in the interest of public safety.

The entire state has been wrapped in drought conditions this year, with a National Weather Service rainfall report for the first six months of the year showing nearly all areas of the islands at barely 50 percent of normal rainfall.

According to the monthly rainfall report released yesterday, Ulupalakua on the slopes below the Kula forest recorded just 0.51 inch of rain in June and is at 59 percent of normal rainfall for the year. The Kula rain gauge recorded just 0.2 inch in June and is at 46 percent of normal for the year.

In the latest West Maui fire, flames were reported in the vacant fields above Wahikuli Terrace at 5:37 p.m. Thursday. Four county engine companies, a wildland fire team, and two helicopters were assisted by additional tankers and two bulldozers that cut firebreaks around the burning fields.

While the helicopters were unable to operate at night, firefighters were helped when the trade winds that had gusted up to 33 mph Thursday afternoon faded in the evening to light-to-moderate levels.

By 9 a.m. yesterday, Maui County information officer Mahina Martin said the Wahikuli fire was 80 percent contained. There were no threats to houses at Wahikuli Terrace or at Ka'anapali Resort, although there was a report of damage to the Ka'anapali coffee farm in the Pu'ukolii area.

Martin said the cause of the Wahikuli fire is under investigation.

It was the fourth major brush fire to break out in West Maui this year.