Police officials on Maui have arrested a man suspected of starting a wildfire that burned more than 9,000 acres of land and forced temporary evacuations for some Kihei and Maalaea residents.
County officials say Holden Bingham was arrested just before 7:30 p.m. Monday evening on suspicion of first-degree arson.
The 28-year-old man, who has no local address, was released pending further investigation, but is still being held on unrelated arrest warrants, according to Maui County. Bingham is a convicted felon who has previously been incarcerated at the Maui Community Correctional Center. He recently agreed to be interviewed by Hawaii News Now for a story on the conditions at the overcrowded facility.
The fires were reported to be 100 percent contained on Monday after burning a combined 9,200 acres.
The flames caused power outages and forced cancellations of flights out of the Kahului airport.