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.
Four engines, three wildland engines, 11 tankers, five dozers and two helicopters are active, and that the fire is located at the 7,000-foot elevation. (Photo courtesy DLNR)
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 Yamash*ta, 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."
(Map courtesy of the Hawaii Tourism Authority)
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.
MFD and a 27-person Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife’s wildland crew worked on the area throughout the day. (Photo courtesy DLNR)
Closures
The fire has caused road closures. The closures include Crater Road at mile marker 2 and between mile markers 8 and 10.
At 3 p.m. Friday, the DLNR DOFAW closed the Kula Forest Reserve and all Na Ala Hele Trails in the reserve as a precaution until further notice.
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.
A map showing the fire's location. (Map courtesy of Maui County)
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: This story has been updated with information from a July 13 news release issued at 6:57 p.m. from the County of Maui. (July 14, 2024).
