#crater road fire

County of Maui officials announced today, July 24, 2024, that Crater Road is scheduled to reopen at noon; however, if conditions become unsafe, the road will again be closed.  Portions of Crater Road have been closed since July 10 due to the ongoing Crater Road fire in Upper Kula, which remains at 80% containment and 574 acres.

The Crater Road fire at Haleakalā remains at 80% containment as firefighting efforts enter a 10th day on Saturday. The fire started on July 10, blocking access to the Summit District of Haleakala National Park and putting Upcountry communities on edge nearly a year after the devastating wildfires of 2023.

The Crater Road Fire remained 80% contained at 574 acres at last report, with the closure of the Summit District of Haleakalā National Park still in effect. The fire started nine days ago on July 10. Containment and acreage has not changed since Monday, July 15.

Lance DeSilva, Forest Management Supervisor, DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife said he hopes to get things settled down by Wednesday, “But we’ll stay out here as long as we have to,” he said.

Maui Council Member Yuki Lei Sugimura, who represents the Upcountry area says the anxiety for residents near the Haleakalā Crater Road fire is heightened due to their prior experience with the destructive wildfires in 2023. Sugimura commented on the structure and organization in determining potential evacuations, saying, “They are doing a lot more than we ever knew a year ago.”

Firefighters battling the Haleakalā Crater Road fire have been challenged by difficult terrain, lava fields on the mauka side of the fire, soft soil when cutting firebreaks, swirling winds and low humidity. Maui fire officials note that while each fire is different, they have identified new technologies and organization that have helped to keep agencies better connected.

The Crater Road Fire has burned 574 acres since it was first reported on Wednesday evening. By 7 p.m. on Sunday, fire officials declared the fire 80% contained. Personnel with the Maui Fire Department will utilize an engine and a tanker overnight to monitor conditions, with work resuming on Monday.

The Crater Road fire has consumed more than 500 acres and was 40% contained at last report. Due to improving conditions Maui County officials have lifted the advisory for residents in affected areas to prepare for potential evacuations. The advisory was issued at 4:11 p.m. on Friday for the area above Kekaulike and Haleakalā highways between Upper Kimo and Waipoli roads, and was lifted at 6:57 p.m. today. Fire crews from Maui Fire Department, DOFAW, National Parks, and Air National Guard were on scene throughout the day, fighting the fire. An evacuation shelter at the King Kekaulike High School gym closed at 2 p.m., but will remain on standby if needed.

As a precaution due to the Crater Road fire, the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) closed the Kula Forest Reserve and all Na Ala Hele Trails in the reserve today, effective at 3 p.m., until further notice.

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 MEMA Alerts.

“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,” Mayor Bissen said. “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.”

Lt. Gov. 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 410 acres.

Update (8 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. Maui Fire Department crews will remain on scene overnight to monitor the fire. Acreage of the fire decreased from 420 to 355 due to more accurate mapping assessments. 

A brush fire that started on Saturday evening off of Crater Road, burned 2-3 acres. Although the fire is fully contained, crews continued mop-up operations today.