A fire in Lahaina was contained this morning, but later flared up again, leading to many people having to leave their homes and some roads being closed. The area around Lahainaluna Road, Hale Mahaolu, and Lahaina Bypass is affected, and people living on the west side should stay in their homes unless told to leave. *Feature image courtesy of KHON2*
Some main roads, like Honoapiilani Highway, are closed because power lines have fallen down. In Kahakuloa, only people who live in the village can drive on the remote part of Kahekili Highway.
Early today, a brush fire of around 3 acres started in the Lahainaluna Road area because of strong winds from Hurricane Dora. The fire was fully contained before 9 a.m., but it flared up again in the afternoon, causing a road closure.
The American Red Cross opened an evacuation center at Lahaina Civic Center, and it will remain open.
In Kula, the fire department is telling residents to leave their homes right away because of a large fire that has spread over 1,000 acres. The fire started early this morning and has led to evacuations in certain areas. Firefighters are working hard to control it.
Trees and power lines have been cleared to make a path for vehicles. The unpredictable wind, difficult landscape, steep slopes, and other factors make it hard to tell where a wildfire might go next.
Another evacuation center has been opened at the Hannibal Tavares Community Center in Pukalani for people and pets. A ranch has opened its arena for farm and ranch animals.
Investigators are still trying to find out what caused the fire.
High winds have been a problem across Hawaii lately. There is a red flag warning for fire risk due to the high winds and low humidity. The brush fire was fueled by winds from Hurricane Dora, which is passing south of Hawaii.
Emergency shelters have been set up, but they don’t provide personal items. People have been reminded to bring their essentials and to restrain their pets.
A scary scene in Lahaina had people jumping into harbor waters to escape the fast-moving flames. The Coast Guard sent help to rescue many people from the water. There are reports that up to 100 people might have needed rescue.
