UPDATE: MPD Reports New Olowalu-Ukumehame Fire

July 8, 2016, 11 a.m., Olowalu-Ukumehame fire. Photo credit: Sarah Turner

Photo taken at 5 p.m. July 8 from Sugar Beach by Maui Now writer Nicole Schenfeld

UPDATE
July 8, 1 p.m.

The Maui Fire Department is asking motorists to limit their travels to and from the West Maui area.

Based on the fire’s location and its expected path, road closures may become necessary for the Honoapi‘ilani Highway this afternoon.

The fire is mauka of Honoapiilani Highway between mileposts 12 and 14.

UPDATE
July 8, 11:08 a.m.

The Maui Fire Department states that West Maui firefighters responded to reports of a brush fire in the Olowalu area at about 7:15 a.m. on Friday July 8, 2016,

Lahaina firefighters arrived at 7:38 a.m. and found brush burning in an open field north of Ehehene Street in the Olowalu-Ukumehame area.

This brush fire is a separate fire that is not connected to the flare ups that have occurred near the Ukumehame Firing Range.

Estimates are that 100 acres have burned so far. A battalion chief and about two dozen firefighters from Lahaina, Napili, Kīhei and Kahului are on scene.

Heavy equipment from Goodfellow Brothers Construction and West Maui Land Co. are cutting firebreaks around the fire, while Air 1 and Air 2 are currently conducting water drops to stop the fire from spreading up the West Maui Mountains.

Maui police have evacuated two homes in the Ehehene St. area as a precaution, but they are not in immediate danger right now.

No homes have been damaged and no injuries are reported.

The fire is being pushed mauka at the moment, so traffic along Honoapi‘ilani Highway is not anticipated to be affected.

The highway is open but motorists may experience slower than normal traffic due to the fire being visible from the highway.

UPDATE
July 8, 11 a.m

At approximately 10 a.m this morning, the Maui Police Department reported a flare-up of the brush fire near Olowalu near Mile Post 13.

Nearby residents are being evacuated as a precaution.

The fire is about a mile up from the roadway and does not pose an immediate threat.

Traffic is not affected as the roadway remains open in both directions.

ORIGINAL POST
July 8, 10:43 a.m.

Although Maui Now has received no official reports from the Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety or the Maui Police Department in response to requests about the apparent flare-up of the Māʻalaea brush fire that started at on Saturday, July 2, Maui Now has received numerous communications from the public, as well as photos that confirm the fire has apparently rekindled.

It is stated in another fire story that fire crews were out to a hot spot on Wednesday evening.

Photos were posted on Maui Now’s Facebook page at approximately 9:30 a.m this morning, and Sarah Turner of Olowalu took photos near mile marker 13.5. of the Honoapi‘ilani Highway at approximately 10 a.m. this morning.

There is also no official word on whether the road is Honoapi‘ilani Highway at this time.

From Honoapi‘ilani Highway at Friday afternoon.

Maui Now will post updates as they become available.

Photo from Luawai St 2 p.m. Traffic moving very slowly toward Kalahului from Olowalu on Honoapi‘ilani Highway.

Sarah Turner took these photo near mile marker 13.5. of the Honoapi‘ilani Highway at approximately 10 a.m. this morning.

Sarah Turner took these photo near mile marker 13.5. of the Honoapi‘ilani Highway at approximately 10 a.m. this morning.

Sarah Turner took these photo near mile marker 13.5. of the Honoapi‘ilani Highway at approximately 10 a.m. this morning.

Maui Now CEO Chuck Bergson took this photo at approximately 9:30 a.m. Friday, July 8.

Maui Now CEO Chuck Bergson took this photo at approximately 9:30 a.m. Friday, July 8.

Maui Now CEO Chuck Bergson took this photo at approximately 9:30 a.m. Friday, July 8.

Above Honoapi‘ilai Highway Mile Marker 14. Photo by Julian Bel-Robert

Taken from entrance to Luawai Street afternoon of July 8, 2016. Olowalu-Ukumehame fire.