With flames from a brush fire visible from her driveway Sunday night, Maui Meadows resident Kristine Kratschmer had bags packed in case she had to evacuate.
“I’ve never seen it that close before,” said Kratschmer, whose rental is near a grass field on the southern end of Akala Drive. “You could hear it. It was pretty loud. And you could definitely see the flames.
“We were pretty close.”
While Maui Meadows residents were allowed to stay in their homes, guests and employees of Hotel Wailea were evacuated late Sunday night as firefighters from six fire stations battled the fast-moving fire that burned 200 acres, officials said.
The fire, which was reported at 6:42 p.m. Sunday near 4050 Kalai Waa St. in Wailea, was 80 percent contained at 3:30 p.m. Monday, said Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino.