Fire in Former Macadamia Nut Fields Burns 5 Acres

A total of five acres of brush was burned in a fire on Monday afternoon in the former macadamia nut fields located above the Kahekili Highway in Waiehu.

PC: James Herbstman

Fire crews were called to the scene at 1:29 p.m. on Monday, July 17, 2017, and arrived at 1:39 p.m. to find heavy smoke about a quarter mile mauka of the highway between Makaʻala Drive and Waiehu Beach Road.

Fire officials say crews were delayed in getting to the fire because of the difficulty in navigating narrow dirt roads with overgrown brush.

After locating the fire, crews found about a half-acre of brush and trees on fire, and observed the fire beginning to spread quickly through heavy vegetation.

The department’s Air-1 helicopter was dispatched to make water drops to help with containment.

According to department reports, crews remained on scene to mop-up the area until the fire was deemed 100% contained at 11:07 p.m. on Monday.

Firefighters spent Tuesday patrolling the area for hot spots and called the fire extinguished at 5:18 p.m. on Tuesday, July 18, 2017.

There were no injuries and no structures were threatened. The cause of the fire could not be determined.

A battalion chief, and three engine companies, a hazardous materials crew, and two water tankers from Wailuku, Kahului and Wailea responded to the brush fire.