VIDEO: The cause of the wildland fire in Maili that occurred on July 6 was classified undetermined by a Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) investigator. HFD received a call about the fire near Paakea Road on Sunday afternoon, July 6, 2025. The fire burned 55 acres, damaged a few structures and led to the death of a 94-year-old woman. There is no definite cause that HFD could determine based on the available evidence, the department reported on July 15. The classification comes from a comprehensive investigation where the fire investigator examined the area of origin, collected and analyzed physical evidence and interviewed witnesses. The weather conditions, environmental factors and all potential ignition sources were also reviewed in this process. The origin of the fire was identified to be Paakea Road, in the vicinity of the Lualualei Very Low Frequency (VLF) Transmitter. The case remains open pending any new evidence. The damage assessment of this fire is still in progress and more information will be released once it is completed.
