‘Huge’ blaze burns above Kaunakakai

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Maui County firefighters fought a large brush fire into the night Saturday on the outskirts of Kaunakakai.

Up to 2,500 acres burned in a blaze first reported at noon near Kikipua Street mauka of the oceanfront town. Prevailing winds whipped the fire away from Kaunakakai.

One firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation and was in stable condition and being monitored at Molokai General Hospital, said Maui County spokeswoman Mahina Martin. No residences were threatened, and the fire was about a mile from homes at its closest point Saturday evening. The cause of the fire was still under investigation.

Three helicopters dropped water on the fire throughout the day, before being called off as night fell. Firefighters flown in from stations at Wailuku and Napili also joined crews from the Molokai fire stations of Kaunakakai, Hoolehua and Pukoo.

County, state and privately owned heavy equipment and water tankers were also on the scene to build firebreaks and provide water.

Air support was planned to resume at daybreak, Martin said.

"It's big," said Kamiloloa resident Punahele Alcon. "There's just a whole wall of fire, moving down."

She said she could see the flames from her home, as well as blue rock exploding in the heat, "like little flares flying up in the sky."

Most of the firefighters were working in the mountains above Kaunakakai, she said, but they appeared to be moving to fight the blaze closer to her house as it moved down the hillside.

Lynn DeCoite said that the fire appeared to start with "huge black smoke" right behind Kaunakakai in an area known as Ranch Camp around midday.

"It moved toward Manila Camp on the other side of town, and then shot straight up toward the forestry area," she said.

The island had mustered all its resources to fight the blaze, she said.

"They got everybody on the fire right now," DeCoite said. "Everybody from private, county and state workers are all called on duty. They're looking at a good-sized fire to deal with now."

"It's a long snake of fire," said Kapaakea resident Bridget Mowat as she watched the blaze work its way along the ridgeline above her house at dusk Saturday. "It's right on the ridge and it is, like, huge. I'm sure Lahaina people can see it."

* Ilima Loomis can be reached at iloomis@mauinews.com. Chris Hamilton can be reached at chamilton@mauinews.com.