Fire in Pukalani 100% contained, evacuation order lifted

UPDATE: 6 p.m.

The Maui Fire Department said the Pukalani fire was 100% contained as of 5:41 p.m. The Maui Emergency Management Agency has also lifted the evacuation order for residents of Akalani Loop and Kalialani Circle.

According to MFD, the fire’s preliminary size is estimated at 8,000 square feet. Emergency crews and a fire inspector are still on scene and no injuries or building damage have been reported. Residents are allowed to return to their homes.

17:25

Maui Emergency Management Agency officials said at 5:20 p.m. that crews are “making good progress on the steep terrain and are beginning to suppress the fire. Air 1 and Air 2 continue to drop water to support crews on the ground. We expect evacuation orders to be lifted soon.”

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PUKALANI, Maui >> Maui Fire Department officials have issued an evacuation order for some residents of Pukalani in the Upcountry after a brush fire broke out this afternoon, just one day before the island marks the first anniversary of the deadly Aug. 8 fires.

The alert was issued at 3:28 p.m. and affects Akalani Loop and Kalialani Circle, according to the Maui Emergency Management Agency. MFD and Maui Police officers went door-to-door in the affected area and evacuees were directed to the Hannibal Tavares Community Center in Pukalani, MEMA said.

“For safety reasons, homes on Akalani Loop and Kalialani Circle are being evacuated,” the statement said. “No further evacuations are planned at this time. If you believe your safety and that of your family is at risk, you should evacuate immediately. Listen for official information on radio, television and mobile devices.”

While emergency crews battle the fire, power went out at about 4,600 Hawaiian Electric Company in Upcountry Maui.

At about 3:45 p.m., officials said firefighters were “slowly getting the fire under control. It is in a deep ravine with very steep access. Air 1 is spraying water with good effect.”

MFD reported the brush fire at 2:55 p.m. in a ravine on Palalani Street in Pukalani. No injuries or structure damage were reported from the fire.

The fire department dispatched three fire engines, a wildland fire tender, a tanker and two aircraft, as well as a tanker from Alpha Inc. to the fire.

Pukalani resident Melissa Abellanida watched her parents’ house, where she grew up, as the fire burned in the nearby ravine.

She told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that it was “only a matter of time before the canyon caught fire.”

Abellanida said a brush fire on the eve of the one-year anniversary of the Aug. 8 wildfires felt “threatening.” And she thought of her cousins ​​who lost their home in Lahaina.

However, she said Maui authorities responded quickly to today’s wildfire.

Maui police were on the scene in a nearby neighborhood, keeping onlookers back and advising people to be “ready to evacuate.” Some residents said they would stay put for now but were prepared to leave the area if necessary.

Hawaiian Electric, meanwhile, said about 2,518 customers were without power in the Pukalani area and a second outage also affected 2,099 customers in parts of Kula, Olinda-Piiholo and Makawao. HECO said the Pukalani outage was not a public safety power shutoff.

“Power lines have been shut down for customers in Kula, Olinda/Piiholo and Makawao at the request of emergency responders as part of their relief efforts,” HECO said in a social media post. “As soon as it is safe to do so, our teams will need to safely inspect our equipment and make any necessary repairs before we can restore power to customers. Mahalo for your patience.”