On September 24, 2025, Maui officials sound emergency sirens and lift evacuation orders for residents near a wildfire that broke out late Tuesday, as reported in the update titled “Maui officials sound emergency sirens, evacuate residents as wildfire threatens town.”
- Evacuation orders lifted near Maui wildfire.
- Fire grew to approximately 300 acres.
- Lahaina wildfire in 2023 caused significant destruction.
- Residents fear another devastating blaze.
- Maui officials failed to activate sirens previously.
- Alternative evacuation routes were opened in Paia.
The wildfire, which started at 1:30 p.m. near the north shore town of Paia, expanded to about 300 acres (40 hectares). Firefighters stopped its spread before it reached containment, and residents began returning home late Tuesday. Police had previously evacuated residents door-to-door, and emergency sirens had sounded to alert the community. No cause or containment estimate has been provided.
Paia, a former sugar plantation town now popular with windsurfers, is on the opposite side of Maui from Lahaina, which was devastated by a deadly fire in 2023. Residents expressed fear of another disaster, recalling Lahaina’s destruction. Maui County Councilwoman Nohelani Uʻu-Hodgins evacuated her family, including her 86-year-old grandmother, from Paia. She described the situation as terrifying and emphasized the importance of learning lessons from Lahaina.
Resident Rod Antone coordinated evacuations for his elderly parents. Working in Wailuku, he listened to radio updates but did not hear sirens, which Maui officials failed to activate before Lahaina’s 2023 fire. Despite calm winds Tuesday, Antone noted that Paia is surrounded by dry brush, similar to Lahaina, which contributed to the previous wildfire’s severity. The Maui Fire Department deployed two helicopters to fight the fire, unlike Lahaina, where strong winds grounded aircraft.
As traffic increased out of Paia, local owner Wayne Thibaudeau opened a gate along an old sugarcane route to provide an alternative evacuation path. The route saw a steady flow of cars packed with residents fleeing the fire. A report on the Lahaina fire indicated that some back roads that could have served as escape routes were blocked by locked gates, complicating evacuations.
- Monitor local alerts for updates on wildfire status and evacuation instructions.
- Identify multiple evacuation routes in case primary routes become blocked or congested.
- Ensure elderly and vulnerable family members are prepared for quick evacuation.
- Report any blocked roads or hazards to authorities to facilitate safe evacuations.
Authorities continue to assess the fire’s behavior, emphasizing the need for community preparedness. The situation highlights ongoing risks in dry, brush-covered areas and underscores the importance of timely warning systems and accessible escape routes for future incidents.
