13m ago / 2:30 PM UTC
Hundreds evacuated, homes destroyed
In the Kula area of Maui, 80 people were evacuated from 40 homes, Maui Mayor Richard Bissen said Tuesday.
He said at least two homes were destroyed in a fire that engulfed about 1,100 acre.
He noted that fierce winds were the biggest challenge in confronting the blazes, as the wind conditions are unsafe for helicopters to do water drops.
Big Island Mayor Mitch Roth said that about 400 homes in four communities in the northern part of the island were evacuated Tuesday. He said one roof had caught fire.
23m ago / 2:20 PM UTC
Where the blazes are
Two brush fires were burning Tuesday on the Big Island in North and South Kohala, Hawai’i County officials said.
“A mandatory evacuation was called for in the Kohala Ranch area, and 2 residents have taken shelter at Hisaoka Gymnasium,” the county said in a public notice Tuesday.
Evacuation shelters were opened at Hisaoka Gym in Kapaʻau and the Waimea Community Center in Waimea, officials said.
Wildfires are also burning in Maui, with the biggest blaze believed to be in Lahaina.
An emergency proclamation was issued Tuesday by Lt. Gov Sylvia Luke, activating the Hawaii National Guard.
34m ago / 2:09 PM UTC
Evacuations in Big Island and Maui
Evacuations are underway in Big Island and Maui amid wildfires that are raging across the area, fueled by winds associated with Dora.
34m ago / 2:09 PM UTC
No fatalities reported in wildfire
Officials were not aware of any deaths and knew of only one injury, a firefighter who was in stable condition at a hospital after experiencing smoke inhalation, Maui County spokesperson Mahina Martin said in a phone interview early Wednesday. There’s no count available for the number of structures affected by the fires or the number of people affected by evacuations, but she said there are four shelters open, with more than 1,000 people at the largest.
“This is so unprecedented,” she said, noting that multiple districts were affected. An emergency in the night is terrifying, she said, and the darkness makes it hard to gauge the extent of the damage.
34m ago / 2:09 PM UTC
Bus routes suspended because of fires
Several transportation services were disrupted Wednesday due to wildfires burning in Maui.
The Lahaina Islander Route #20, Lahaina Villager Route #23, Kaanapali Islander Route #25, and West Maui Islander Route #28 were suspended until further notice, the county said in a public notice.
Maui Bus ADA Paratransit Service and MEO Human Service Transportation trips to and from and within West Maui were also suspended.
“All Maui Bus Commuter Services will be suspended until further notice,” the county said.
34m ago / 2:09 PM UTC
911 service down on Maui’s west side
First responders faced a hurdle in grappling with wildfires burning in Maui as 911 service went down early Wednesday.
Maui County said on social media the service was unavailable on the island’s west side at 12 a.m. local time (6 a.m. ET).
Locals are urged to call the Lahaina Police Department directly in case of an emergency.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Nbcnews.com
