Day 6: Mā‘alaea Fire 90% Contained

Māʻalaea fire. Sunday photos July 3, 2016. Photos courtesy: County of Maui, Ryan Piros.

Maui Fire Department updated its report on the Mā‘alaea brush fire at 4:30 p.m. today.

Fire crews on Thursday morning, July 7, 2016, increased the containment estimates of the Mā‘alaea brush fire from 80 to 90%.

Two fire units spent Thursday morning patrolling and mopping up hot spots on the Mā‘alaea  side of the fire, and a problem area near the Ukumehame Firing Range.

There are no active fires currently burning within the 4,700 acres scorched so far, but isolated hot spots still persist.

Firefighters expect that small pockets of smoldering material will probably be seen by motorists for at least several more days.

Crews will continue to make routine patrols along Honoapiilani Highway and douse hot spots as they come across them.

It is anticipated that the fire will be fully contained in a few days, but it may take a little more time before it will be called extinguished.