Wailea Brush Fire Burns Trash Near Highway

Photo by Wendy Osher.

A brush fire on Sunday evening burned a small area of grass and trash mauka of the Piʻilani Highway near Keonekai Road before being brought under control.

The fire was reported at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015.

Fire officials say an engine crew from Wailea arrived at 6:37 p.m. to find a 100 x 150 foot area of grass and trash burning about 200 yards mauka of Piʻilani Highway and 300 yards north of Mapu Drive.

According to department reports, the fire was called contained by 7 p.m. and extinguished at 7:48 p.m.

Maui Fire Services Officer Edward Taomoto said the burned out area appeared to be dumping ground of discarded household items.

He said wind conditions were light and favorable at the time, so crews were able to quickly control the fire before it spread to nearby homes on Mapu Drive.

The cause of the fire was undetermined.

Two engines, a ladder company, and two water tankers from Wailea, Kīhei, and Kahului were dispatched to the incident.