Kealia Pond Structure Fire Causes $20,000 Damage

Kealia Wildlife Refuge, photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

An early-morning fire at an open pavilion located within the Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge on Maui resulted an estimated $20,000 in damage, fire officials said.

Authorities say the fire was reported at 2:26 a.m. today, March 28, at the structure located on the western-most side of the property.

Maui Fire Services Chief Lee Mainaga said that when fire units arrived on scene at 2:35 a.m., the structure was fully engulfed in flames.

He described the pavilion as an unoccupied 20-foot by 20-foot open structure built with timber and recycled plastic planks.

According to Mainaga, the fire was brought under control by 3 a.m., and extinguished at 3:30 a.m.

Units responding to the scene reportedly included crews from the Kihei and Kahului Fire Stations.

Officials say the cause of the fire was undetermined, and no injuries were reported.