Maui Fire Department officials are currently investigating a brush fire that scorched close to 400 acres in the Paia area, believed to have been deliberately set. According to a KITV report, the blaze, which was first noticed near Baldwin Avenue and Holomua Road on a Tuesday afternoon, necessitated a temporary evacuation in the community. Yesterday, the fire had been largely contained, although it originally started from a seemingly insignificant four acres.
Fire investigators have pinpointed the fire's origins to two separate locations, each estimated to be about 20 feet by 20 feet and roughly 300 feet apart. Located along Holomua Road, and as the MFD's preliminary findings suggest, determined just before the Baldwin Avenue intersection, the circumstances indicate intentional ignition. "In accordance with NFPA 921, the near-simultaneous occurrence of separated brush fires is consistent with an incendiary classification, indicating that the fires were intentionally ignited," the Hawaii News Now article states, quoting directly from the investigative report.
Additionally, the report references another brush fire in the vicinity the night before the Holomua fire, adding to the suspicion of deliberate action. With the absence of evidence for natural or accidental causes, the theory of arson is further supported. Despite the in-depth investigation, the finder has so far been elusive, with no suspects identified or eyewitnesses to the ignition having been located.
Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding the cause of the fire or those behind it to step forward. Concerned citizens can contact the Maui Police Department’s nonemergency line or email the MFD's fire investigators. The public is also encouraged to report any suspicious activity related to fire setting promptly by calling 911, in a bid to prevent similar potentially dangerous incidents in the future.
