VIDEO: Brush Fire Mauka of Honolua Bay Burns 2 Acres

[flashvideo file=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xiWmGCRE6c /] By Wendy Osher

(Update: 3:02 p.m. 2/20/15)

A total of two acres of brush burned in an afternoon fire located in an old Maui Land & Pineapple field above Honolua Bay on Maui.

The fire was first reported at 11:43 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 20, about a half mile north of the bay, on the mauka side of the Honoapiʻilani Highway.

Acting Maui Fire Services Officer Edward Taomoto said the blaze was brought under control by 1:06 p.m., and no structures were threatened; however, the highway was briefly closed until alternating traffic could be established during the firefighting operations.

Units responding to the scene included water tankers from Lahaina, Kahului and Wailea, along with firefighters from Nāpili, Lahaina and Kīhei, as well as the department’s Air 1 helicopter.

Crews remained on scene for mop up operations.  The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

(Update: 2 p.m. 2/20/15; Update: 12:46 p.m., 2/20/15; Posted: 12 p.m. 2/20/15)

A brush fire mauka of Honolua Bay in Kapalua temporarily impacted traffic on the Honoapiʻilani Highway in the area of Mile 32 to 33.

At around 12 p.m. police issued an advisory saying the highway was closed in the area.  At around 12:45 p.m., fire operations had been isolated to the mauka side of the highway; and at 2 p.m. Maui police issued an updated advisory saying traffic was being contra-flowed in the area.

Crews, including the department’s Air 1 helicopter are on scene.

***We will continue to update this post as more information becomes available.

Honolua Bay brush fire, 2/20/15. Photo credit: Dino Tassara.

Brush Fire, mauka of Honolua Bay. Maui Now graphic.