Maui firefighters smother 2 blazes

State and county firefighters tamed two small brush fires Tuesday in Kula and Makawao forest reserves.

A fire that began Monday in Kula blackened 6 acres and damaged three homes. Maui firefighters had that fire 90 percent contained by Tuesday morning, and it did not grow.

Lee Mainaga, Maui Fire Department spokesman, said ground crews conducted mop-up operations yesterday, extinguishing hot spots. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The Makawao Forest Reserve fire was contained Tuesday afternoon, the Department of Land and Natural Resources said. DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife crews contained the 6-acre fire in the reserve Tuesday.

About a dozen firefighters continued to extinguish hot spots Tuesday afterno