Face of Nation : More than 600 people on Maui were in shelters and thousands were ordered to evacuate because of a large brush fire in the central part of the island Thursday, officials and local media reported.
The blaze had reached an estimated 3,000 acres, the Maui County mayor said at a news conference. No injuries or significant property damage had been reported, he said. Flights into Kahului Airport were temporarily diverted, but normal operations later resumed, the Hawaii Department of Transportation said.
Maui Mayor Mike Victorino said at a Thursday night news conference that the fire was not contained, and some roads were closed. The fire had burned in fallow former sugar cane lands and dry brush, the county said in a statement.
“We can’t fight the fire tonight. I said, ‘I’m not going to send any of our firefighters or any of our emergency personnel into harm’s way,'” Victorino said, adding that responders were staging themselves to be ready in case the blaze threatens areas with residences or commercial properties.
Mandatory evacuations were ordered for Maalaea and north Kihei residents. Maalaea residents were later allowed to return, while Kihei residents were urged to remain at shelters, Maui County said.
Huge plumes of smoke rose above the fire Thursday, and the National Weather Service tweeted satellite video that showed the drifting smoke visible from space.