Overview

• Maui Emergency Management Agency issued evacuation orders and warnings around 2:09 p.m. on Sept. 23 for several areas of Paia due to heavy smoke and the fire’s close proximity.
• The blaze was first reported at 1:30 p.m., prompting door-to-door checks and alerts via EAS, WEA, Genasys, MEMA Alerts, and sirens.
• Road restrictions included Baldwin Avenue at Haliimaile, Baldwin from Paia Elementary to Holomua Road, and the Paia-bound lane of Hana Highway near Haleakala Highway.
• Evacuation centers opened at the Haliimaile, Eddie Tam (Makawao), Hannibal Tavares (Pukalani), and Haiku community centers.
• The response deployed two helicopters, four engines, a tanker, a battalion chief, a state Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting team, and private dozers and tankers, with the fire initially estimated at about four acres.