Wildfire Sparks in Sugarcane Fields on the Island of Maui | WPN World People News

A massive wildfire on the island of Maui, Hawaii began mid-morning on Thursday, July 11, 2019. The cause of the fire remains unknown. Over 10,000 acres of old sugar cane fields and dry vegetation burned quickly and the fire grew so swiftly that thousands of residents near the fire were evacuated. Winds blowing at 20 mph caused the fire to spread and fanned flames crossed into fallow fields.

Wildfire Sparks in Sugarcane Fields on the Island of Maui

As of July 12, the fire still continues to burn, but residents were allowed to return to their homes just hours after they were evacuated on July 11. They were, however, warned to remain vigilant in case conditions change.

Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino viewed the Central Maui wildfire from a helicopter Thursday afternoon. “I’m very happy to report that there have been no reports of injuries or significant property damage,” Mayor Victorino said. “The fire came very close to some structures in South Maui, including the Maalaea Power Plant, but firefighters were able to prevent damages.”

On July 12 at 3:22 a.m. HST (9:22 a.m. EDT) the National Weather Service office in Honolulu, Hawaii said of the smoke plume from the fire that "the latest guidance continues to depict the mean low-level wind flow/transport winds will remain out of the east at moderate to breezy levels. The north to northeast surface winds over the valley will trend up through the late morning and afternoon hours today, likely becoming gusty by the afternoon. Winds may become variable at times due to the location of the wildfire being downwind of Haleakala."

Source: U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration