By RYAN MITCHEL COLLINS
Managing Editor
KAHULUI–A brush fire that started on July 10 has spread to an estimated 420 acres near Haleakala Highway about two miles from the Haleakala National Park Visitor Center. Haleakala National Park has been closed indefinitely as a result of the fire and six residents in the area have been evacuated as of Thursday afternoon.
Mayor Richard Bissen signed an Emergency Proclamation today at 7:20 a.m. in response to the ongoing Crater Road Fire in Upcountry. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time and is under investigation, but Bissen said the fire originated around mile markers eight, nine, and 10.
“On the brink of our one year anniversary of our island’s wildfires, I realize that as a community we are experiencing many different emotions,” Bissen said in Wailuku on Thursday. “Any fire can be concerning and distressing to many of us. I want to assure you that the county and the state are collectively working together to maximize our resources and most importantly to keep our community safe.”
Bissen said a collective effort began on July 10 at 6 p.m. and continued well into the night when the Maui Police Department, Department of Fire, Maui Emergency Management Agency, The National Park Service, The Hawaii Department of Forestry, Hawaii Department of Transportation, state airport firefighters, County Department of Public Works, local contractors, and Public Safety came together to fight the fire.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green is currently in Utah and has been since July 10 to attend the National Governors Association (NGA) 2024 Summer Meeting, according to The Office of the Governor. He is scheduled to return to the state on July 30.
Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke will serve as acting Governor from the evening of July 10 through midday of July 30.
“Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke, serving as Acting Governor, signed an Emergency Proclamation (EP) today in response to the ongoing Crater Road Fire in upcountry Maui which began burning on July 10, 2024, and has since burned an estimated 500 acres,” a press release from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor said.
Luke signed the emergency proclamation at 1:30 a.m. Thursday morning in order to get available resources to the fire.
“We were able to do an emergency proclamation at 1:30 a.m.,” Luke said in a press conference today in Wailuku. “That would not have been done without the coordination and cohesive partnership between the state and the county.”
Luke said that “two large helicopters have been deployed from Oahu.”
“These helicopters – that can drop thousands of gallons in specific effective areas – will provide additional fire suppression efforts,” Luke said. “They will not be acting alone. They will be working directly under the leadership of Chief (Brad) Ventura.”
Maui Emergency Management Agency continues to encourage residents — above Kekaulike and Haleakala highways between Upper Kimo and Waipoli roads — to prepare for potential evacuation and monitor radio, TV and mobile devices for official information.
The Crater Road fire is 15% contained at 420 acres as of 11 a.m., according to
Mayor Bissen. Bissen said the focus for multiple ground and air crews remains on stopping progress toward residences and building control lines.
Multiple MFD ground units, state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife, National Parks firefighting crews, five dozers and three helicopters are currently responding to the fire.
Crater Road at Mile Marker 2 was closed early Thursday morning by the Maui Police Department. Haleakala National Park and Crater Road between mile markers 8 and 10 were closed the evening of July 10.
All of the approximately 150 to 200 vehicles stranded above the impacted area in Haleakala National Park were evacuated in a coordinated effort throughout the night and into Thursday morning, according to the county. No injuries have been reported and no structures have been damaged in the brush fire as of press time.
“The crater fire as of noon (Thursday) is burning about a mile from the park entrance in the summit district,” Haleakala National Park Chief Ranger Ari Wong said. “Park rangers evacuated about 200 vehicles earlier this morning along with our partners Maui Police and Maui Fire.”
Wong said that 12 staff residents that live inside the park are currently being evacuated due to the fire.
“We’re just doing that out of an abundance of caution,” Wong said of the evacuations.
MEMA issued an informational message at 3:04 a.m. asking residents in homes above Kekaulike and Haleakala highways between Upper Kimo and Waipoli roads to prepare for potential evacuation, but added that a follow-up message for evacuations will be deemed, if necessary.
MEMA’s Emergency Operations Center was partially activated at 8:02 p.m. July 10 in response to the fire.
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