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Maui firefighters have ‘suspicious’ brush fire mostly contained

A raging brush fire that scorched about 100 acres on Maui is 75 percent contained.

Firefighters are expected to return to Pulehu today to monitor areas where they extinguished hot spots Tuesday.

The brush fire broke out Monday afternoon in fallow cane fields southwest of the Central Maui Landfill and Pulehu Road and Omaopio Road junction.

Firefighters observed three separate brush fires, each approximately more than a mile apart, said Fire Services Chief Edward Taomoto of the Maui Fire Department.

Crews from the county Department of Public Works, Hawaiian Cement and Goodfellow Brothers Inc. assisted firefighters with water tankers and bulldozers, which were used to cut firebreaks and clear areas for firefighters to gain access to the fires.

Two helicopters also conducted water drops. No injuries were reported and no structures were threatened.

Taomoto said the cause of the fires is considered suspicious.

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