Small Brush Fires Doused in Kīhei and West Maui
By Wendy Osher
Maui firefighters battled small brush fires on both sides of the island.
The latest incident occurred overnight in South Maui at around 2:46 a.m. on Friday, May 9, 2014.
According to department officials, a small brush fire about 40-feet by 50-feet in size was reported behind the Haggai Institute off of Līloa Drive in Kīhei.
When crews from Engine 6 out of Kīhei and Tanker 14 out of Wailea arrived on scene, they observed flames 3 to 4 feet high, burning in a grass field of a vacant lot, and slowly moving west, according to Maui Fire Services Chief Lee Mainaga.
The fire came within 30 feet of the trees and fence line of the Haggai Institute, according to department reports.
The blaze was brought under control by 3:02 a.m., and extinguished by 3:11 a.m., according to fire officials.
Crews on scene were unable to determine the cause of the fire, said Mainaga.
Another fire, reported at around 8:10 p.m. on Thursday, May 8, 2014, in West Maui burned an estimated 200 square feet of brush before being brought under control.
The incident was reported on the makai side of the Honoapiʻilani Highway, near mile marker 12 near Pāpalaua.
Companies from Engine 3 and Tanker 3 out of Lahaina arrived on scene to find an area of brush, grass and shrubs involved with flames showing 4 to 5 feet in height, said Mainaga.
Fire officials say the small blaze was brought under control by 8:35 p.m., and was extinguished at 8:55 p.m.
The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time, according to fire officials.
No monetary damages or injuries were reported in either incident.