Maui Fire Department crews and tankers patrolled the perimeter of a major wildfire in Central and South Maui on Sunday, putting out flare-ups as the department’s Air One helicopter doused hot spots on the fourth day of firefighting efforts.
The 9,000-acre blaze that broke out Thursday morning was 80 percent contained as of Sunday afternoon, according to a county news release, about the same as it had been as of Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, containment of the 200-acre fire that was reported Friday afternoon near Lowe’s and the under-construction Safeway was at 90 percent as of Sunday afternoon, also the same as it had been on Saturday.
Fire officials reported responding to numerous calls of “smokers,” many in the middle of the burn areas, which fire officials said are of a lower priority than those near the edges. The fire could smolder for a week, fire officials said. Any flare-ups should be reported by calling 911.
All roads remained open, with no evacuations in effect as of Sunday.