Workers halt fire’s
advance on Maui
WAILUKU >> Firefighters had "pretty much contained" a brush fire yesterday that burned thousands of acres of land on the leeward slopes of Haleakala on Maui, Deputy Fire Chief Alan Cordeiro said.
State, county and federal workers helped in containing the blaze that started Sunday afternoon and had burned an area encompassing an estimated 5,000 acres in the Kahikinui area between Ulupalakua and Kaupo.
Mark Tanaka-Sanders, Haleakala National Park's chief ranger, said for the most part, the county firefighters were the ones who fought the fire and halted its advance into the native koa forest at the 5,000-foot level.
"They did a great job," he said.
The fire began along the main road at about 150 feet above sea level and went up to the 4,200-foot level before being contained, Tanaka-Sanders said.