UPDATE: Kahana Ridge Fire Burns Nearly 1,000 Acres, 70% Contained

October 23, 2019, 8:08 AM HST
* Updated October 23, 4:57 PM

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UPDATE: 3:40 p.m. Oct. 23, 2019

Fire crews are continuing efforts to suppress the Kahana wildfire, which officials say is now 70 percent contained as of this afternoon.

According to an update from the Maui Fire Department, the fire is not threatening the Kahana Ridge Subdivision as crews currently work to extinguish flames in “hard-to-reach” areas of the gulch.

There are no evacuations or major road closures in the area.

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However, officials are advising that traffic on neighborhood roads in the Kahana area might be impacted.

According to MFD, this update will be the last one provided for today.

UPDATE: 12 p.m. Oct. 23, 2019

A wildfire that burned under 1,000 acres above Kahana Ridge in West Maui is “no longer actively raging,” according to a noon update issued by the County of Maui. “However, the fire did get into a few gulch areas that are proving to be challenging for firefighters.”

The fire was 55 percent contained as of noon today.

All roads were reopened before 5:30 this morning. A shelter at the Lahaina Civic Center was closed, and residents in Kahana were allowed to return home overnight. The brush fire initially threatened homes in the Kahana Ridge area, but there were no reports of injuries and property damage was limited to singed rooftops, according to unconfirmed reports.

The Lahaina Civic Center was closed as a shelter as of 7 a.m. today. County officials say no one sought shelter overnight at the facility; however, about a half dozen people checked in at the shelter after it opened on Tuesday.

Late this morning, crews aboard three helicopters were making water drops and assessing the fire’s activity. Firefighters remained on the scene, including Engine 11 Nāpili, Mini 11 Nāpili, Ladder 3 Lahaina, Tanker 3 Lahaina, Battalion Chief 6, Relief Engine 14, a back firing team, Tanker 14 from Wailea, Air 1, 2 & 3 and a Goodfellow tanker.

County officials say Maui fire crews were concentrating on attacking the perimeter of the fire, which is more than 5.5 miles long.

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“I would like to thank firefighters, police and first responders who have been hard at work protecting life and property with this wildfire,” Mayor Michael Victorino said. “I ask everyone to continue to be vigilant and to stay away from the areas where fire crews need access to the fire.”

Maui Emergency Management Agency officials reported that Maui County qualifies for federal financial assistance reimbursement of up to 75 percent of qualifying expenses for this fire. Federal assistance was approved because the fire threatened lives and property and required evacuations.

UPDATE: 8 a.m. 10.23.19

All roads reopened before 5:30 a.m. today, the Lahaina Civic Center shelter closed and people in Kahana were allowed to return home after Maui firefighters continued to battle a blaze overnight above Kahana Ridge.

The Kahana Ridge fire remained 45 percent contained, and the acreage affected was under 1,000 acres, the Maui Fire Department reported.

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Overnight, fire crews fought brush fires that threatened homes in the Kahana Ridge area. There were no reports of injuries or property damage.

The Lahaina Civic Center was closed as a shelter as of 7 a.m. today. No one sought shelter overnight. However, about a half dozen people checked in at the shelter after it opened on Tuesday.

This morning, crews aboard two helicopters were making water drops and assessing the fire’s activity.

Maui Emergency Management Agency officials reported that, because of this fire incident, Maui County qualifies for federal financial assistance.