Update 8 p.m. July 11: Haleakalā Crater Road brush fire burns 355 acres; 50% contained; emergency advisory lifted for residents

Update: 8 p.m., 6:37 p.m., July 11, 2024

Due to improving conditions Maui County officials have lifted the advisory as of 6:37 p.m. for residents in affected areas to prepare for potential evacuations. The advisory was issued at 3:04 a.m. on Thursday for residents in the area above Kekaulike and Haleakalā Highways between Upper Kimo and Waipoli Roads. Maui Fire Department crews will remain on scene overnight to monitor the fire, and Maui Police Department personnel remain on scene for the road closure between Mile 2 and 10 on Crater Road.

The Crater Road fire is 50% contained at 355 acres as of 8 p.m., July 11, 2024. Acreage of the fire decreased from 420 to 355 due to more accurate mapping assessments.  Forward progress of the fire was stopped earlier on Thursday afternoon.

Drones were deployed around 6:30 p.m. this evening to survey the fire with a thermal lens, which better detects hot spots.

Update: 5:30 p.m., July 11, 2024

The Crater Road fire is 50% contained at 420 acres as of 5:30 p.m., July 11, 2024, and forward progress of the fire has been stopped as of earlier this afternoon, according to Maui Fire Department. Although multiple helicopters are available, two helicopters are active due to reduced visibility. Dozers have successfully cut control lines around most of the fire, according to a county update. No injuries and structural damages have been reported due to the fire, which is located at about 7,000-foot elevation.

Residents in the area must continue to remain vigilant as fire behavior can change quickly given the current weather conditions. Although no evacuation orders have been issued for the Haleakala Crater Road Fire, Maui Emegency Management Agency (MEMA) continues to encourage residents  — above Kekaulike and Haleakalā highways between Upper Kimo and Waipoli roads — to prepare for potential evacuation and monitor radio, TV and mobile devices for official information.

Firefighters will remain on scene overnight to monitor the situation, work on containment and extinguish hot spots. Four engines, three wildland engines, 11 tankers, five dozers, two helicopters, an MFD crew and a 27-person state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife’s wildland crew have been working throughout the day.

Crater Road will remain closed overnight. The Summit District of Haleakalā National Park remains closed until further notice.

Update: 3 p.m., July 11, 2024

The Haleakalā Crater Road fire is 25% contained at 420 acres as of 3 p.m., July 11, 2024, and forward progress has been stopped, according to Maui Fire Department. While five helicopters are active, only two to three are flying due to fog and low visibility. Dozers have successfully cut control lines around most of the perimeter and will continue this work, according to a county update. No injuries and structural damages have been reported due to the fire, which is located at about 7,000-foot elevation.

Residents in the area must continue to remain vigilant as fire behavior can change quickly given the current weather conditions. Although no evacuation orders have been issued for the Haleakala Crater Road Fire, Maui Emegency Management Agency (MEMA) continues to encourage residents  — above Kekaulike and Haleakala highways between Upper Kimo and Waipoli roads — to prepare for potential evacuation and monitor radio, TV and mobile devices for official information. 

The Crater Road fire is far uphill relative to the County Department of Water Supply water system, and there are no current concerns over the safety of the Upcountry drinking water, according to County Water Supply Director John Stufflebean. However, DWS is prepared to respond should the system be threatened.

Four engines, three wildland engines, 11 tankers, five dozers, five helicopters, MFD firing crew and a 27-person state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife’s wildland crew. 

Crater Road remains closed between Mile Marker 2 and 10. The summit district of Haleakalā National Park is closed until further notice.

Update 11 a.m., July 11, 2024

The Crater Road fire is 15% contained at 420 acres as of 10 a.m. this morning, July 11, 2024, according to Maui Fire Department (MFD). While weather conditions are dangerous for fires (temperature is up and relative humidity is down), progress is being made with dozers and air assets. Dozers have successfully cut control line around approximately 35% of the fire and will continue this work. No injuries and structural damages have been reported due to the fire, which is located at about 7,000-foot elevation.

Emergency responders say they have a plan in place to trigger notifications at the two hour and one hour marks if the fire advances towards homes.  The nearest homes are located about 2 miles away in the Kekaulike area southwest of the fire.  There were about 12 staff members working in the summit district that were being evacuated from the upper reaches of the national park as a precaution today.

Fire crews currently have five air assets working the fire with water drops, and have deployed two state assets that are scheduled to assist.  Resources on scene include: four engines, three wildland engines, 11 tankers, five dozers, five helicopters, an MFD firing crew and a 27-person state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife wildland crew.

• Haleakalā National Park’s Summit District is closed until further notice and is not accessible at this time.
• Haleakalā National Park sunrise reservations are canceled until further notice. Haleakalā National Park’s Kīpahulu District in East Maui remains open.

Rep. Kyle Yamashita whose district includes the Upcountry Maui area said, “We are closely monitoring the Haleakalā Crater Road Fire and appreciate the tireless efforts of our dedicated county, state, and federal partners in mitigating its spread. Area residents should stay updated via official information from the County of Maui and be prepared for potential evacuation.”

Yamashita thanked Acting Governor Sylvia Luke for swiftly signing an emergency proclamation in the early morning that authorized the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency to support emergency response efforts and the Adjutant General to activate the Hawai‘i National Guard as needed to protect public health, safety, property, and natural resources.

He said Maui County residents are encouraged to sign up for email or text alerts via “Civic Ready“. Additionally, the Department of Health’s Maui Behavioral Health Services is available to provide support. Crisis clinicians can be reached at 808-446-6676, and for behavioral health crises, dial 988.

Crater Road Fire burns 410 acres; Area residents encouraged to be prepared in case evacuations are necessary
Update: (9:14 a.m., July 11, 2024)

The Crater Road fire is 10% contained at 410 acres as of 6:15 this morning, July 11, 2024, according to Maui Fire Department. The focus for multiple ground and air crews remains on stopping progress toward residences and building control lines, according to a County update. 

Although no evacuation orders have been issued for the fire, the Maui Emergency Management Agency continues to encourage residents  — above Kekaulike and Haleakalā highways between Upper Kimo and Waipoli roads — to prepare for potential evacuation by monitoring radio, TV and mobile devices for official information. An information message was issued by emergency management officials at 3:04 a.m. asking for residents of the area to prepare, but added that a follow-up message for evacuations would be issued at a latter time, if deemed necessary.

Multiple MFD ground units, state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife, National Parks firefighting crews, five dozers and three helicopters are currently responding to the fire. 

Crater Road remains closed between Mile Marker 2 and 10. 

County officials report all of the approximately 150 to 200 vehicles mauka of the impacted area were released in a coordinated effort overnight. Motorists tell Maui Now that the effort involved the release of 5-15 vehicles at a time, with some getting out after 3 a.m. No injuries have been reported and no structures have been damaged in the brush fire.

MEMA’s Emergency Operations Center was partially activated at 8:02 p.m. July 10.

Update: (8:49 a.m., July 11, 2024)

Maui emergency managers have revised the estimated size of the Crater Road Fire to 410 acres (down from a previously reported 500 acres burned). At 6 a.m., the fire was declared 10% contained. Emergency crews continue to work on containment efforts.

Update: (5:03 a.m., 3:36 a.m., 1:24 a.m., July 11, 2024)

The Crater Road Fire has burned 500 acres since it was first reported at 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. A road closure remains in place between mile marker 2 and 10. Approximately 150-200 vehicles that have been held above the impacted area are in the process of being released in a coordinated effort to allow them to exit safely. 

Motorists who were stranded on the mauka side said groups of 5-15 cars were escorted down the mountain at a time when conditions permitted, with the first group released at 12:30 a.m.

“This wasn’t quite the memory we were expecting when driving up to the summit to catch a beautiful sunset, which we did… but it will definitely be a memorable one,” said Lance Carpenter in an email to Maui Now.

After catching the sunset with his sister, brother-in-law and their two sons (ages 13 and 9), Carpenter was stuck in his truck 100 feet from emergency personnel on the road to the Hosmer Campground. He was among a group of about 15 cars that began the descent past firefighters and emergency responders at around 3:10 a.m.

Due to the closure of Haleakalā National Park, access to sunrise viewing and the campgrounds at Hosmer’s Grove are closed for Thursday, July 11, 2024.

The fire is currently traveling southeast with wind blowing at 40 mph.  No homes or structures have been impacted, and no evacuation orders have been given at this time.

The Maui Fire Department deployed more than 30 personnel and resources including a Engine 13, Engine 5, Tanker 10, Rescue 10, Wildland 10 A, Engine 14, HazMat 10, Rescue Engine 10, Rescue Engine 50, Tanker 3, Engine 2, Engine 1, two Alpha Wildland tankers, one State Airport Fire Apparatus, two Maui Polio Department units, one Maui Police Department supervisor, 10 National Park Rangers, three Department of Public Works tankers, one Haleakalā Ranch Dozer, and two Goodfellow Bros. tankers.

The Maui Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was partially activated at 8:02 p.m. As of 10:35 p.m., Unified Command was established between MEMA, Maui Police Department, Maui Fire Department and Haleakalā National Park.

“I am very grateful and tip my hat to all of the coordinated emergency responders and firefighters (especially the firefighters) working tirelessly to extinguish the brush fire and everyone keeping us safe,” said Carpenter.

Acting Governor Luke Issues Emergency Proclamation to Aid With Maui Crater Road Fire

Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke, serving as Acting Governor, signed an Emergency Proclamation (EP) on Wednesday evening in response to the ongoing Crater Road Fire in Upcountry, Maui which began on July 10, 2024, and has since burned an estimated 500 acres.

This thirteenth proclamation relating to wildfires is a supplement to the Emergency Proclamation issued on Aug. 9, 2023 relating to the Lahaina, Kula, and Kohala wildfires.

This proclamation authorizes the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency to take appropriate action to assist in emergency response efforts to ensure continued and effective statewide response.

It also authorizes the Adjutant General to activate the Hawai‘i National Guard, as deemed necessary, to aid in protecting public health and safety, property, and natural resources.

The proclamation suspends laws that might impede or delay the execution of emergency functions.

Previous posts:

300 acres burned; 150-200 cars are located mauka of the closure
Update: (11:02 p.m., July 10, 2024)

The Crater Road Fire has burned an estimated 300 acres since it was first reported at 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday, July 10, 2024.

The fire has resulted a road closure between mile marker 8 and 10, with approximately 150-200 cars located mauka of the road closure. Emergency personnel are actively working to identify and accommodate basic needs for those affected, according to an evening update.

The fire is currently traveling southeast, with wind speeds estimated at 40 mph.  No homes or structures have been impacted, and no evacuation orders have been given at this time.

The Maui Emergency Management Agency was activated at 8:02 p.m. As of 10:35 p.m., Unified Command was established between MEMA, Maui Police Department, Maui Fire Department and Haleakalā National Park.

Current resources deployed include the following: Engine 13, Engine 5, Tanker 10, Rescue 10, Wildland 10 A, E14, HazMat 10, Rescue Engine 10, Rescue Tanker 10 (4), Rescue Tanker 10, Tanker 3, Engine 3, Engine 2, Engine 1, two Alpha Wildland tankers, two Goodfellow Bros. tankers, two Maui Police Department units, one Maui Police Department supervisor and three Department of Public Works tankers.

Due to safety concerns and the expected continuation of the road closure through the night, access to the summit area of Haleakalā National Park will be closed on Thursday, July 11.

Update: (10:41 p.m, 8:33 p.m., July 10, 2024)

Maui Fire Department crews are on scene battling a brushfire reported at around 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday evening along the slope of Haleakalā. Maui Police Department personnel and National Park Rangers are on scene executing necessary road closures between Mile 8 and 10 on Crater Road. Motorists on the mauka side of the road closure were instructed to drive up the mountain and park in designated areas. There was no estimates for acreage burned at last report.

Motorists say a light drizzle was reported at around 10:41 p.m.

Previous post:

A brush fire is burning along the slopes of Haleakalā near Mile 8 of Crater Road. Video was sent to us at 7:28 p.m. and again at 7:35 p.m. on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 showing the glow of flames and smoke rising from the area.

*This post will be updated when more information becomes available.