On Saturday, a fire broke out at Hammerhead Metal Recycling in Puunene on Maui. The Maui County Emergency Management Agency reported that the fire was confined to the recycling property where scrap metal recyclables were affected.
The Hawaii Department of Health has issued an advisory regarding the smoke caused by the fire. Residents and visitors with pre-existing respiratory conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema are advised by the DOH Clean Air Branch to take precautionary measures or consider leaving the area until the fire is contained and the smoke dissipates. Safety tips provided by the DOH include avoiding outdoor activities, staying indoors with windows and doors closed, using air conditioning set to recirculate air, keeping medications on hand, and staying hydrated.
Real-time monitoring data is available online for the public to check air quality levels. Additional air monitoring data can be found on the DOH Clean Air Branch website, as well as on AirNow’s Fire and Smoke website which provides hourly averages of air quality. The Hawaii CARES 988 crisis line is available 24/7 for anyone needing support due to the fire and smoke.
As of a 2:30 p.m. update on the Maui County Fire Department Facebook page, crews were working to make slow but steady progress on containing the fire. Resources were being utilized to monitor the fire and prevent it from spreading further. Currently, there are no road closures or evacuations in place for the surrounding area.
