WAILUKU, Hawaii — At a Monday morning press conference in Wailuku, county officials offered an overview of the continuing 574-acre blaze while urging residents to remain vigilant.
“This fire is not out,” stated County of Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety Chief Brad Ventura. “We will be up there continuing to work on hot spots.”
Originally reported just after 6 p.m. July 10, the fire is currently 80% contained as personnel from multiple agencies have been working to contain the fire in difficult terrain at roughly a 7,000-foot elevation. The area is mostly on Haleakala Ranch land that includes ravines, gullies and dense patches of eucalyptus trees.
The terrain combined with the unpredictable weather has been a continuing challenge, but there have been no evacuations or reports of injuries or damage to structures.
Two emergency advisories to prepare for possible evacuations had been posted but were lifted hours later. Nearby roads and facilities remain closed.
Ventura said bulldozer lines had been cut around roughly 70% of the four-mile fire perimeter with private bulldozer operators helping to navigate gulches and gullies.
He said since the fire began, state, county and private water tankers have helped to move over a half-million gallons of water uphill. On Friday and Saturday, Hawaii National Guard aircraft dropped over 63,000 gallons of water on the fire, mostly in a eucalyptus grove on the mauka side of the fire.
Helicopters are also being used to move portable water totes along the fire line and shuttling firefighters to different areas of the fire. Ventura said firefighters with hand tools are hiking in to fight the fire using water from the portable totes which is “extremely physically demanding.”
Started over a year ago, the MFD drone team has piloted drones to monitor the fire at night and provide situational updates.
Maui Emergency Management Agency Administrator Amos Lonokailua-Hewett said the agency’s effort has focused on public safety, coordinating resources responding to the fire and gathering and disseminating information to the public.
“We have seen such coordinated effort,” said Acting Gov. Sylvia Luke. “Red Flag Warnings have become a new normal. During this time, we all have to be vigilant, not just about hurricane readiness but wildfire readiness.”
County officials thanks state, federal and private partners for providing resources to help battle the fire. “We’re very grateful for all those folks helping us, as they have done in past emergencies,” said Mayor Richard Bissen.
Bissen also addressed anxiety and stress caused by the situation, saying residents can find mental health support on the Maui Recovers website or by calling the Hawaii Cares Crisis Line at 988.
Maui County released an update of the Crater Road Fire at 7 p.m. Sunday saying that the fire is 80% contained at 574 acres, according to the Maui Fire Department.
Crews worked throughout Sunday with heavy equipment fortifying and improving four-mile-long firebreaks and a three-mile-long contingency line while extinguishing hot spots along the perimeter and within the interior.
Helicopters addressed hot spots with water drops, especially in the eucalyptus grove, and transported water tanks so crews could address hot spots in areas inaccessible to vehicles. Work will continue on Monday, according to the update.
Working to extinguish the fire are MFD firefighters along with personnel from the State Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife, National Park Service and Haleakala Ranch. Goodfellow Brothers, Alpha Construction, Vares Construction, Hayes Construction, Mahi Pono, County Public Works and Transportation departments have lent heavy equipment and water tankers for the effort.
Crater Road, Haleakala National Park, as well as Kula Forest Reserve and all Na Ala Hale Trails in the reserve remain closed.
At 6:57 p.m. Saturday, the Maui Emergency Management Agency lifted the Crater Road Fire emergency advisory sent out at 4:11 p.m. Friday.
As a result, evacuations are not expected for residents above Kekaulike and Haleakala highways between Upper Kimo and Waipoli roads. However, MEMA has asked they continue to monitor radio, TV and mobile devices.
Maui Fire Department and MEMA continue to monitor the fire 24/7 and as of 7 p.m. Saturday, MFD estimates the fire is 70% contained at 550 acres.
Should conditions change, notifications will be issued.
A Maui County update at noon on Saturday said Maui Fire Department Command is calling the fire 40% contained with no acreage updates available.
On Friday afternoon, a strong, swirling wind sparked fire outside of the control lines. A fire in a eucalyptus grove on the mauka flank of the burn area has also been problematic. Because of the wind and difficult terrain, the fire grew to approximately 550 acres on Friday. HFD said the acreage and containment numbers may continue to fluctuate.
MEMA monitored the fire Friday night while the Maui Fire Department remained on-site. A thermal drone launched at 2 a.m. detected hot spots.
MFD resumed air operations at 7 a.m. Saturday with helicopters conducting initial assessments and ordering more military helicopters if needed.
MFD said air assets are making progress in heavy timber and all hand crews are in position. Air 2 addressed a flareup on the south flank at 11 a.m. Currently on-site are three MFD engines, one wildland engine and one tanker; three MFD-contracted aircraft; Hawaii Air National Guard Blackhawk and Chinook; State DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife hand crew; National Park Service hand crew; nine tankers and eight bull dozers.
Although no evacuation orders have been given, the Maui Emergency Management Agency had sent an emergency advisory at 4:11 p.m. on Friday encouraging residents above Kekaulike and Haleakala Highway between Upper Kimo and Waipoli roads to prepare for potential evacuations.
As of 2 p.m. Saturday, the shelter will go into standby mode and can reopen in minutes if evacuation orders are given.
Winds were estimated at 15 to 25 miles per hour early this morning with some gusts over 35 mph causing embers to cross control lines.
No injuries have been reported, and no homes have been damaged at this time.
Emergency proclamations
Serving as acting governor, Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke signed an Emergency Proclamation Thursday morning in response to the ongoing Crater Road Fire.
The governor's proclamation authorizes the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to help in emergency response efforts. It also allows the Adjutant General to activate the Hawaii National Guard.
Meanwhile, Maui Mayor Richard Bissen signed his own Emergency Proclamation in response to the fire. This proclamation allows the county to access federal assistance programs, including funds for emergency response efforts.
Rep. Kyle Yamashita, D-12 Upcountry Maui, issued a statement, saying he is closely monitoring the situation, urging area residents to sign up for Maui County alerts, and praising Luke for "swiftly signing an emergency proclamation in the early morning."
Potential evacuations
As of 10:35 a.m. Thursday, Unified Command was established between MEMA, Maui Police Department, Maui Fire Department and Haleakala National Park. The Maui Emergency Management Agency Emergency Operations Center was partially activated as well.
Maui County officials assessed the conditions were improving, and therefore lifted the advisory that had been issued for residents above Kekaulike and Haleakala highways between Upper Kimo and Waipoli roads. Although evacuations are not expected, residents are still advised to monitor radio, T.V. and movle devices for official information.
If the spread of the fire is expected to hit a residential area, requiring an evacuation, then an alert will be sent two-hours in advance, according to MEMA Administrator Amos Lonokailua-Hewett, who spoke at a news conference on Thursday at 12 p.m. A follow-up notification will be sent one-hour in advance.
“We will use every tool in our arsenal to communicate to the public to give you guys time and information and keep everybody safe,” said Lonokailua-Hewett.
The 2-hour alerts will be sent via MEMA notifications and the County communications. Lonokailua-Hewett encouraged everyone to sign-up for MEMA notifications.
MEMA's emergency call line for residents of the Crater Road Fire, 808-270-7285, will be open until 2 p.m. Saturday when it will enter standby mode.
No evacuation orders have been given as of Saturday morning. However, MEMA has opened the King Kekaulike High School gymnasium for provide area residents who may be triggered with a safe place to go. The gym has water, restrooms and electricity and is pet friendly. People are reminded to bring medication, go-bags and any other needed items.
Closures
The fire has caused road closures. The closures include Crater Road at mile marker 2 and between mile markers 8 and 10.
The DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife reopened Kula Forest Reserve early Tuesday morning with a warning of caution to visitors to avoid sparking any new fires.
Haleakala National Park
Maui County has closed Haleakala National Park until further notice, because of the fire. Due to the closure, access to sunrise viewing and the campgrounds at Hosmer’s Grove are closed.
“The crater fire, as of noon, is burning about a mile from the park entrance in the summit district,” said Haleakala National Park Chief Ranger Ari Wong, who spoke at the news conference on Thursday.
On Thursday morning, park rangers, along with Maui Police Department and Maui Fire Department personnel, evacuated about 200 vehicles from the Hosmer Grove campground.
As of Thursday early afternoon, park rangers are evacuating 12 staff members who live in the park.
“We're just doing that out of an abundance of caution and to take some of the pressure off of Maui Fire to make sure that they aren't needing to access Crater Road,” said Wong.
Air quality monitoring
The Hawaii Department of Health is coordinating with state and county officials to collect real-time air monitoring data. Currently, air quality monitors in central Maui show the air quality continues to be good. However, DOH said changes may occur and residents and visitors are advised to be prepared.
Water Information
Maui County's Department of Water Supply reports that the Crater Road fire is far uphill relative to their water system, so there are no concerns about the safety of the Upcountry drinking water.
Mental health concerns
Trevor Davis, Department of Health Maui Behavioral Health Wildfire Response Project Director, said at Thursday’s news conference many Maui residents may be triggered, frightened, or saddened by the Crater Road Fire, as it comes less than a year after the devastating Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires.
“We want to make sure that everyone remembers that we are a connected community, and we work together to watch out for each other, stick together and make sure that we're avoiding any kind of difficult behaviors,” said Davis. “There are times when these kinds of events can trigger depression, aggressive episodes, increased substance use. It can actually trigger physical illness, and it's all just stress that is complicated because of what has happened previously.”
In order to manage fire-related stress, Davis recommended people focus on their daily routines. He also said people should stay up to date through the news, but to “take breaks” when it’s not necessary.
“One of the things that you can do is try and break any kind of problematic situations that come up, as a result of this event, into smaller issues, and try and find just one simple solution to move forward. Make sure that you're making time with your family and with your friends to engage in healthy and meaningful activities where you can. It is important to stay focused on positive coping, making sure you're breathing when you need to, that you're engaging and connecting with nature, that you're listening to music, that you're doing the stuff that you would normally do to try and cope through the stress of any normal day. But this is not a normal day. This is a more stressful day,” said Davis.
He also said to reach out for help, including talking to mental health and substance use providers on Maui, accessing the behavioral health clinics in Lahaina, Kahului and Wailuku, and using community providers.
The Warm Line, which is a support line run by crisis clinicians, can be reached by calling 808-446-4666
Specific resources are listed on the Maui Recovers website.
Editor’s note: The article has been updated with the reopening of the Kula Forest Reserve. (July 16, 2024)