Haleakalā Crater Road fire update 9 p.m. July 12: Residents urged to prepare for potential evacuations; 550 acres burned

Update: 8:50 p.m., July 12, 2024

Maui County officials issued an update shortly before 9 p.m., notifying the public there are NO evacuations called at this time. However, Maui Police Department officers are going through Kula neighborhoods notifying residents to PREPARE to evacuate if necessary and to sign up for alerts with the Maui Emergency Management Agency.

Residents in homes above Kekaulike and Haleakalā highways between Upper Kimo and Waipoli roads are urged to prepare for potential eventuations. The Maui Emergency Management Agency reports that a follow-up message for evacuations will be issued, if necessary.

County officials report: “Strong, swirling winds this afternoon caused fire spotting, which sparked fire outside of the control lines. Fire in a eucalyptus grove on the mauka flank of the burn area has been problematic.”

The fire grew from 355 acres on Thursday morning to approximately 550 acres this evening. Maui fire officials say a fire containment percentage is difficult to estimate.

As of 8 p.m., fire progress was stopped on the south side. The eucalyptus trees were still burning on the east (mauka) side but at a slow progression. No injuries or structural damages have been reported due to the fire. 

County officials said this will be the last general update for July 12, barring emergencies, with more information to be provided on Saturday.

Helicopters paused operation at nightfall. One MFD engine and tanker, along with six personnel, will remain on scene overnight. 

A Maui Fire Department drone team deployed to provide perimeter updates. Wind speeds are approximately 5-10 mph with gusts of 15 mph at last report.

Update: 5 p.m., July 12, 2024

Although no evacuation orders have been issued for the Haleakalā Crater Road Fire, the Maui Emergency Management Agency at 4:11 this afternoon sent an emergency advisory to encourage residents  — above Kekaulike and Haleakalā highways between Upper Kimo and Waipoli roads — to prepare for potential evacuation. MEMA added that a follow-up message for evacuations will be issued, if necessary, and asked residents to monitor radio, TV and mobile devices for official information.

County officials say “strong, swirling wind” this afternoon caused “fire spotting,” which sparked fire outside of the control lines.

Assets responding to the scene include three to five helicopters, five to six dozers, 18 Maui Fire Department firefighters, 30 DLNR DOFAW (engine, tankers and hand crews) personnel, 17 National Park Service hand crew and others.

DLNR Division of State Parks closed Polipoli Spring State Recreational Area this afternoon. The fire increased in size from 355 acres this morning to approximately 500 acres this afternoon, according to Maui fire officials.

Update: 4:11 p.m. July 12, 2024

Due to a change in the behavior of the fire in the Upper Kula area, the Maui Emergency Management Agency is urging residents to prepare for a potential evacuation. “The safety of our community is our top priority, and we need your cooperation to ensure everyone’s well-being,” officials said in an informational update. “This is just an advisory message; a follow-up message for evacuations will be provided if deemed necessary,” the update states.

This applies to homes above Kekaulike and Haleakalā Highways between Upper Kimo and Waipoli Roads.

As a precaution, residents in this area should monitor radio, TV, and mobile devices for official information. Prepare yourself and your family to evacuate if notified by County officials.

Maui Emergency Management Agency continues to monitor the situation and will provide additional information as it becomes available.

The fire has reportedly increased in size to approximately 500-550 acres. Crews are currently working to stop forward progress of the fire on the south side perimeter.

Residents in the area are advised to remain vigilant, as fire behavior can change quickly given the current weather conditions.

There are currently five air assets doing water drops in the area, with winds blowing at approximately 20 mph.

Update: 1 p.m., July 12, 2024

The Crater Road fire remains 70% contained at 355 acres as of 1 p.m. on July 12, 2024. Forward progress of the fire remains stopped since Thursday, but a change in acreage may occur today as a result of fire in a eucalyptus grove that remains problematic, according to an afternoon update from the county.

Fire officials say the majority of the fire ground remains cold, however, fire in heavy eucalyptus on the mauka side continues to be problematic. A spot fire outside the control line in this area is the priority for multiple ground and air resources that are heavily engaged in suppression efforts this afternoon.

No injuries or structural damages have been reported due to the fire, which is located at about the 7,000-foot elevation.

On scene, there are five MFD fire crews, Air One, Air Two, one Blackhawk, one Chinook, two tankers, five dozers, 10 National Parks personnel and a 27-person state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife’s wildland crew. 

The National Park Service reports Crater Road will be closed through Saturday morning, when conditions will be reassessed. Haleakalā National Park remains closed until further notice.

Update: 9 a.m. July 12, 2024

The Crater Road fire is 70% contained at 355 acres as of 9 a.m. July 12, 2024, county officials said. The Maui Fire Department reports that the plume of smoke visible miles from the site is caused by hot spots in a eucalyptus grove on the mauka flank that slightly grew in intensity overnight. The department added that it is not a cause for concern, and many resources are responding to the fire today. Forward progress of the fire remains stopped, but a change in acreage may occur today as a result of the eucalyptus grove, according to the county update. No injuries or structural damages have been reported due to the fire, which is located at about the 7,000-foot elevation.

On scene are: five MFD fire crews, Air One, Air Two, one Blackhawk, one Chinook, two tankers, five dozers, 10 National Parks personnel and a 27-person state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife’s wildland crew. MFD is working with forestry and parks to conduct ground support work to cool the tree line, officials said.

Crater Road and Haleakala National Park remain closed.

Update: 4:48 a.m., July 12, 2024

Maui Fire Department crews remained on scene overnight to monitor the Haleakalā Crater Road fire, which burned 355 acres since Wednesday. The acreage burned was revised downward due to more accurate mapping assessments. (Earlier reports including video and photos are filed HERE).

Maui fire officials say forward progress on the fire was stopped on Thursday afternoon. Due to improving conditions, Maui County officials lifted the emergency advisory for residents who were advised earlier to prepare for potential evacuations. The advisory was in effect for much of Thursday for residents in the area above Kekaulike and Haleakalā Highways between Upper Kimo and Waipoli Roads.

“If the spread of fire is expected to hit residential areas within a two-hour mark, we have a trigger of notification; if it hits a one-hour mark, we also have a trigger of notification,” explained Maui Emergency Management Agency Administrator Amos Lonokailua-Hewett. “We will use every tool in our arsenal to communicate to the public to give timely information, and keep everybody safe.”

Fire crews had gained at least 50% containment on the fire as of 8 p.m. Thursday. Drones were deployed on Thursday evening to survey the fire with a thermal lens, which better detects hot spots.

County officials say dozers successfully cut control lines around most of the fire before nightfall. No injuries and structural damages were due to the fire, which is located at around the 7,000-foot elevation.

Maui Fire Chief Brad Ventura indicated that while a Fire investigator had been on-scene since Wednesday evening, due to windy conditions and the terrain involved, it was not possible to determine cause and origin of the fire at this time.

“We did have, fire, started last week, Saturday in the area of Crater Road. We’re trying to determine, based on the witnesses and interviews of the first on scene, and 911 caller if this fire was outside of that original fire or if it was related to it,” said Ventura. “There was a lot of, activity up there on the hill. And so there’s a lot of opportunity for ignitions when there’s people in cars, and work going on.”

Four engines, three wildland engines, 11 tankers, five dozers, two helicopters, an Maui Fire Department crew and a 27-person state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife’s wildland crew were utilized to battle the fire on Thursday. 

Crater Road remained closed at last report. The Summit District of Haleakalā National Park remains closed until further notice.

“On the brink of our one-year anniversary of our island’s wildfires, I realize as a community we are experiencing many different emotions, and any fire can be a very concerning and distressing situation for many of us,” Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said during a press conference on Thursday. “I want to assure you that the County and the State are collectively working together to maximize resources and most importantly, keep our community safe. The safety of our community is of the utmost importance, and I encourage everyone to remain calm and continue to monitor the situation.”

For individuals needing mental health support, resources are available on the Maui Recovers website (www.mauirecovers.org) or by calling the State’s support line at 808-446-6676 for guidance on resources. For crisis support, the 24/7 number to call is 988.