2 Brush Fires Reported on ʻAwalau Road

File image by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

Maui firefighters responded to two fires within a half mile of each other on ʻAwalau Road in Haʻikū on Friday, July 19, 2013, officials said.

The first fire was reported at 10:15 a.m. in an open field with a patch of eucalyptus trees.

According to Maui Fire Services Chief Lee Mainaga, the fire burned about 50-feet of an 80-foot-tall eucalyptus tree at the location, as well as an area about 25-feet by 25-feet around the burned tree.

The fire was called under control at 11:30 a.m., and extinguished at 2:08 p.m.

While fighting the first fire, crews noticed smoke about a half-mile up the road at around 12:30 p.m., said FS Chief Mainaga.

Firefighters from Tanker 10 out of Kahului diverted their attention to the second blaze, while crews form Makawao and a separate tanker unit remained on the scene of the first fire, officials said.

Authorities say the second fire burned a 20-foot by 10-foot area under some guava trees and was extinguished by 3:26 p.m.

The cause of both fires was undetermined, and there was no evidence found to connect the two fires, said FS Chief Mainaga.

No injuries or damages were reported.