Multiple sources report that a fast-moving brush fire sparked by Hurricane Nolo burned more than 100 acres near Olowalu in West Maui over the weekend before being contained. With evacuation orders lifted and power restored, four Lahaina public schools that had been closed Monday were cleared to reopen Tuesday, September 29.
- The Olowalu brush fire ignited Saturday afternoon, spread rapidly fueled by wind gusts up to 60 mph, and burned more than 100 acres before being contained
- Evacuation orders for the Olowalu area have been lifted and power has been restored to much of the affected region
- Four Lahaina schools — King Kamehameha III Elementary, Princess Nāhiʻenaʻena Elementary, Lahaina Intermediate, and Lahainaluna High — reopened Tuesday after being closed Monday
- The Hawaii State Department of Education said the storm ‘did not cause significant damage’ to any school campuses
- Schools had been closed due to power outages, uncertainty about the brush fire, and concerns over water service reliability while power was out
- Water-dropping helicopters were credited as critical to containing the fire, operating amid 60 mph wind gusts (Hawaii Public Radio)
- A local Olowalu farmer noted the fire traveled roughly 2,000 yards within minutes of ignition and described the area as a ‘tinderbox,’ citing multiple fires in the area over the past three years (Hawaii Public Radio)
- Several families displaced from the 2023 Lahaina fires are living in the Olowalu area and were rattled by the close call (Hawaii Public Radio)
- The Maui Fire Department has not yet released an official cause or point of origin for the fire (Hawaii Public Radio)
Sources
- Yahoo: All Big Island, Maui County public schools impacted by Nolo will be open Tuesday
- Hawaii Public Radio: ‘It was pretty scary’: Fast-moving Olowalu brush fire came too close for comfort
- Aol: All Big Island, Maui County public schools impacted by Nolo will be open Tuesday
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