Rekindled Agricultural Fire Burns Half Acre on Moloka‘i

Molokaʻi firefighters responded to a small brush fire on Farrington Avenue at around 1:20 p.m. on Saturday, June 10, 2017.

Kaunakakai Fire Station. File photo Courtesy, County of Maui.

The Hoʻolehua fire crew was initially called to a possible structure fire, but when they arrived at 1:26 p.m., they found about a quarter-acre of brush burning on a residential lot on the north side of Farrington Ave. and just west of Puʻupeʻelua Ave.

Assisted by an engine and water tanker from the Kaunakakai fire station, Hoʻolehua firefighters brought the fire under control at 1:38 p.m. Around a half-acre had been burned by the time crews called the fire extinguished at 2:54 p.m.

The fire came to within 200 to 300 feet from a home but did not cause any damages. There were no injuries reported.

Maui Fire Services Chief Edward Taomoto said the fire was ruled accidental and was likely caused by an agricultural fire that had rekindled. The property owner thought the fire had been completely extinguished when they left the property at about 9 a.m. Saturday morning.