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Maui firefighters battle stubborn brush fire

Maui firefighters planned to return to Kahului at dawn today to battle a large brush fire near North Firebreak Road.

Firefighters responded to a small brush fire in fallow sugar cane fields off of Haleakala Highway shortly before 4 p.m. Thursday.

Fire Services Chief Edward Taomoto, spokesman of the Maui Fire Department, said windy conditions caused the fire to spread, prompting the fire department to deploy two helicopters to help battle the fire.

Crews from the county Department Public Works used water tankers to assist.

By 7 p.m. the brush fire was estimated at 80 to 100 acres. Firefighters stayed at the scene overnight to help prevent the blaze from spreading to adjacent fields.

Taomoto said no structures are threatened and no injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.

The fire department recommends Kihei and Wailea residents who live downwind of the fire and have respiratory problems to close their windows and remain indoors.

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