Cause of fire determined to be accident

WAILUKU - Teenagers playing with a lighter started a brush fire that burned 155 acres near the Wailea Fire Station over the weekend, police said Tuesday.

Police arson investigators interviewed a 15-year-old Kihei boy Monday afternoon and planned to question three other teenagers who were present when the fire started, said Lt. Don Simpson of the Criminal Investigation Division.

He said the fire apparently was started accidentally, fueled by dry brush and windy conditions in a field behind the fire station on the makai side.

After the fire was reported at 4:24 p.m. Saturday, firefighters worked through the night and the next day before the fire was largely contained by 7 p.m. Sunday. Some Maui Meadows residents were evacuated Saturday night when the fire that started on the makai side of Piilani Highway crossed the road to approach homes.

Six vehicles owned by firefighters and parked at the fire station on Kilohana Drive were damaged, along with a chain-link fence. The damage was estimated at $20,000.

Once police detectives complete their reports, they will be sent to the Maui County prosecutor's office for review, Simpson said.

County spokeswoman Mahina Martin said the fire that began Saturday continued to smolder Tuesday.

Another unrelated fire Monday afternoon burned about 5 acres of brush and kiawe trees near Piilani Highway and Kaonoulu Road near a baseyard of Betsill Brothers Construction Inc.

The fire, reported at 2:27 p.m., was 90 percent contained by 4:30 p.m. and extinguished at 9:07 p.m., said acting Battalion Chief Jack Williams. He said the fire started near the road and was spread by wind to burn brush and kiawe trees. The cause hasn't been determined.

Martin said the fire caused an estimated $10,000 in damage to Betsill Brothers' equipment and $2,500 in damage to landscaping plants.