Maui Fire Department officials confirmed today that the brushfire which started near Honoapiilani Highway above the Kapalua Airport has been fully contained. The blaze began around 12:35 p.m. yesterday and was brought under control shortly before 7 a.m. the following day. Firefighters from MFD, along with officials from the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources, continue to work towards fully extinguishing the fire, as reported by KHON2.
The fire scorched an estimated 15 acres, but there was no necessity for evacuations or reports of injuries. In an abundance of caution, King Kamehameha III Elementary School in Lahaina was closed today. According to a KITV report, the Hawaii State Department of Education is to undertake a thorough inspection of the campus to assess potential smoke exposure impacts before allowing students to return.
No immediate threats to residences or local infrastructure have been reported, and the MFD along with the State Department of Land and Natural Resources remain vigilant as they continue to safely manage the situation. Crews are focused on preventing any potential flares or spread of the fire, despite containment efforts proving successful earlier this week.
