Kahoolawe fire now at 2,635 acres
22 February 2020
Published by https://www.mauinews.com/
USA – Kahoolawe brush fire spreads Saturday as efforts to fight it were hindered by variables tied to unexploded devices. Maui Fire Department photo
Kahoolawe brush fire chars 100 acres by midday. Maui Fire Department photo
A map provided by the Maui Fire Department shows the acreage burning on Kahoolawe. The fire has grown from about 100 acres Saturday morning to about 2,635 acres on Sunday morning.
A brush fire on Kahoolawe that crews are unable to fight over concerns of unexploded ordnances has spread to 2,635 acres as of 10:30 a.m. Sunday, the Maui Fire Department has reported.
The fire is actively burning and not expected to stop any time soon, the department said. Crews are currently monitoring the blaze, which was first reported at about 9:50 a.m. Saturday.
Air One, with a battalion chief aboard, was dispatched and confirmed the fire at Kealaikahiki on the southwest end of the uninhabited island, according to Fire Services Chief Rylan Yatsushiro. About 100 acres had burned by 11:30 a.m. Saturday and the fire was moving mauka.
Because the island was once used by the U.S. military as a bombing site, firefighting on Saturday was put on hold due to concerns over unexploded ordnances.
The cause of the fire is still unknown, and no damages had been reported as of Sunday morning.
