KAWAIAHE, Hawaii (Island News) -- Residents in Kawaihae Village are under a mandatory evacuation as firefighters are working to extinguish a wildfire that has burned about 500 acres since Saturday afternoon.
The Hawaii Fire Department is responding to a wildland fire in South Kohala, according to the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency at 6:11 p.m. on Saturday, July 25. A Wildfire Warning was issued for the Kawaihae Village subdivision community just before 8 p.m. for residents to immediately evacuate.
Residents are directed to drive through Kawaihae Road to Waimea and the Waimea Community Center is open as a shelter, located at 65-1260 Kawaihae Rd. The County of Hawaii said that approximately 50 homes are in the evacuation area near the junction of Kawaihae Road and Queen Kaahumanu Highway.
Kawaihae Road between Waiula Drive and Queen Kaahumanu Highway has been closed for the next six hours as firefighters battle the blaze. Kohala Mountain Road, Waikoloa Road and Akoni Pule Road remain open as alternate routes to local traffic only.
Drivers are advised to expect traffic delays and avoid the area when possible.
No buildings or infrastructures are threatened by the fire. No injuries have been reported.
Learn more about fire prevention and preparedness, by visiting the Civil Defense website or the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization website.
This story will be updated with the latest information.