Firefighters Extinguish Maui Brush Fire that Forced Evacuations Near Location of Fatal Lahaina Fire

LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — A brush fire burned 10 acres (4 hectares) on Saturday and led to the evacuation of residents in Lahaina, just a few miles from the location of a recent deadly fire. Firefighters were able to bring the flames under control.

Firefighters used a helicopter and ground hoses to extinguish the fire, according to John Heggie, a spokesperson for Maui County’s Joint Information Center.

Maui County assured residents in an Instagram post that the fire no longer posed a threat, but urged evacuees to stay away from the area until it was safe to return.

The evacuation order impacted a small number of homes in the hills above the Kaanapali resort hotels. The exact number of affected residents is unknown at this time.

Back on August 8, a wildfire tore through downtown Lahaina, resulting in the loss of 115 lives and 2,000 structures. The area has been experiencing minimal rainfall, leading to drought conditions.

The previous fire was intensified by strong trade winds, partly influenced by Hurricane Dora, which passed by about 500 miles (800 kilometers) south of Maui.

The National Weather Service forecasted breezes of 3 to 8 mph (4.8 to 12 kph) for Lahaina on Saturday afternoon.