West Maui Fire Still Burning with Highway Open on Monitored, Limited Basis

Highway which is moving very slowly

This fire-trace map is just one of many products supplied to firefighters by Pacific Disaster Center. The red line shows the extent of the fire late in the morning of Wednesday, June 9, when 5,800 acres were burning or had been burned. The fainter, more irregular yellow lines indicate the elevation from sea level, with the line closest to the shore marking 500 feet up, and each successive line appearing where the ground level is 500 feet higher than the one before.

County of Maui press release on the Maalaea Fire as of 6 p.m. (local time) on Tuesday, June 8 (later updates below):

Shortly after 6:00 p.m., Maui Police re-opened Honoapiilani Highway tonight. Motorists are advised to expect delayed traffic. The road was closed just before 12 noon today [Tuesday] as a brush fire that started Monday evening caused heavy smoke and spread towards the highway.

[Tuesday] 7 helicopters assisted 77 firefighters from multiple fire stations and a crew of 19 from the State's Department of Forestry and Wildlife. The helicopters—which included 2 Black Hawk helicopters provided by the National Guard at the request of Mayor Charmaine Tavares—assisted fire crews with water drops. For safety reasons air operations will cease at nightfall.

Firefighters were aided by heavy equipment and water tankers from the County's Public Works Department and Hawaiian Cement Co.

The American Red Cross opened shelters at the Lahaina Civic Center in West Maui and the War Memorial Gym in Wailuku.

Fire officials report that over 2,000 acres have burned in an area with difficult and inaccessible terrain. [Figure rose to 5,800 acres in about 12 hours.] Wind conditions continued to be a factor throughout today.

One firefighter was transported to Maui Memorial Medical Center this afternoon for smoke inhalation. The firefighter's condition is reported to be stable.

No structures are reported damaged.

PDC Support to Firefighting Efforts

Maui Fire Department called PDC Senior Imagery Analyst & Geospatial Database Manager Rich Nezelek less than an hour after the fire was reported on Monday night. By Tuesday morning, Nezelek was providing continuing fire mapping support to the firefighters. "It's helpful when I can meet them in their on-site command center," Nezelek said, "because we can look at the maps together and see what else is needed." PDC products have included a series of maps, each eagerly received by firefighters who immediately begin to sketch in recent activities and refer to them for planning next steps in fighting the blaze. The maps are easily understood, actionable information. They show the extent of the fire and the locations of its various fronts on a background of photo-like terrain with added data. Nezelek is also supplying data, including maps and population data based on PDC dasymetric mapping (refined population distribution information) to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which has authorized funds for fighting this major wildfire.

Maui County update as of 7 p.m. includes:

Motorists are advised that Maui Police are alternating traffic utilizing one lane at this time. Traffic will be slow moving due to the built-up congestion. Fire Department equipment & personnel will be utilizing the mauka side of the highway.

From the website of The Maui News, posted after 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 9:

Twenty-six firefighters remained at the fire scene overnight Tuesday and early Wednesday morning. Later Wednesday, fire crews were expected to focus on preventing the brush fire from advancing on the Ukumehame side of the blaze's perimeter. At dawn, the fire was reported to be a half-mile from Honoapiilani Highway.

Both lanes of the highway—West Maui's link to Central and South Maui—were open to traffic, although motorists were advised that the fire and heavy smoke might cause intermittent road closures.

For updates on road closures, check Maui County's road closure advisory line at 986-1200.

Maui County update as of 12 noon, Wednesday, June 9:

Fire officials report that the fire has burned an estimated 5,800 acres and is now 75% contained.

Both lanes of Honoapiilani Highway remain open to traffic. However, motorists are cautioned that wind conditions could adversely affect the fire and cause intermittent road closures. Maui Police will continue to post updates to Honoapiilani Highway on the road closure advisory phone line: 986-1200.

40 firefighters from the Wailuku, Lahaina and Kahului fire stations are on scene. Fire crews are aided by 3 water tankers, 2 bulldozers and 5 helicopters - supplied by Windward Aviation and Pacific Helicopter – conducting water drops today. In addition, 20 State Department of Forestry and Wildlife firefighters are also on scene.

No injuries are reported and currently there is no threat to structures.

The next update is expected to be released at 5:30 pm today (Wednesday).

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