Another blaze on Hawaii island was reported at 2 p.m. Sunday, this time on the slopes of Mauna Loa above Volcano.
The Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency said there was an active brush fire in the area of Keauhou Ranch, a quarter-mile from Powerline Road. The fire was moving south toward Kapapala Ranch.
Meanwhile, Hawaii County firefighters were continuing to fight a brush fire near Waikoloa on Highway 190 between Waikoloa Road junction and Kaiminani Drive on Sunday. That fire had burned more than 15,000 acres as of Sunday.
Maui
Shifting winds help blaze scorch 10 acres in Pulehu
A brush fire near the Kula Agriculture Park in Pulehu burned about 10 acres Sunday afternoon, according to a statement from the Maui Fire Department.
Crews were called to the fire at around 2:15 p.m., and while they had made significant progress to control it by 4 p.m., it had not been officially declared contained. Upon first arriving, firefighters reportedly found the fire in predominantly light, dry brush. Shifting winds and difficult access to the area made fighting the blaze challenging, according to the Fire Department. Crews had to work strategically to protect farm equipment and nearby structures while also attempting to stop the fire from spreading.
The cause of the fire has not been determined. No injuries were reported. Crews remained on scene to put out hot spots and secure the perimeter of the fire.
Pedestrian struck, killed was not in crosswalk
A 37-year-old woman died Saturday after a van struck her at an intersection in Kahului.
Maui police say Yonina Helgenberger of Kahului was not in a marked crosswalk when she cut diagonally across the intersection of Kaahumanu and Papa avenues at 5:12 a.m. Saturday. A van traveling east on Kaahumanu Avenue struck her.
Helgenberger died at the scene.
The van driver, a 55-year-old Kahului man, was not injured.
Police say they are investigating whether speed, drug or alcohol use contributed to the collision.
This was the Valley Island’s 11th traffic fatality of 2018. There were four at this time last year.
