County leaders applaud emergency response to fast-moving blaze in Wailuku

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Wailuku residents were on high alert Monday while the Piihana brush fire triggered mandatory and voluntary evacuations, which has since been lifted.

The crisis was a test of Maui County emergency operations.

And county leaders said first responders and emergency management officials passed.

Maui County Council member Alice Lee represents Wailuku and says since the Lahaina wildfire nearly a year ago, emergency communication is much faster.

“We were notified immediately, we have updates constantly and you can access information, either on your phone, on your television, or by calling our emergency center,” Lee said.

There’s no word on what caused this fire, but Lee says the Piihana Road area has dealt with past brush fires, abandoned vehicle fires, overgrown brush and homeless encampments.

“As a result, you have fires from time to time, small fires, but nowadays with the wind and the heat, it’s just fuel for more fire,” said Lee.

Nani Barretto, co-director Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization, says the nonprofit’s messaging about fire safety was put to use Monday since one of their employees lives a mile from the fire. “Don’t wait for the evacuation order. If you see smoke, if you smell smoke when you go outside, just evacuate, leave early, check in with your neighbors, get your family members, and all head out. You can always come back at a later time,” said Barretto.

Experts say Hawaii is a wildfire-prone state — as seen with last week’s fire on Haleakala and blaze in Kokee, Kauai. “We just learned from the National Weather Service last week that we’re expecting these drought conditions are going to be extended this season,” said Barretto.

“Wildfires are here, they’re not going anywhere. It is our new reality,” she added.

Shelly Aina is a wildfire home assessor and says it’s important to keep your yard clean.

“If you have a lot of rubbish around your house, or if you have a lot of dead vegetation ... around your house and an ember lands in there, there’s a good chance it’s going to catch fire and your house is in trouble,” said Aina. “If you own the fuel, you own the fire,” she added.

For more wildfire safety tips, go to the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization.