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COURTESY ALERTWEST via WATCH DUTY
Smoke from a wildfire burning east of Waikoloa Village on the Big Island is seen in this image from ALERTWest late this afternoon. Hawaii County officials said some residents in the area have evacuated.
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COURTESY GOOGLE MAPS
Two buildings of the Lofts in Waikoloa Village were evacuated today as a wind-driven wildfire burned near the area.
A wildfire burning near Waikoloa Village on Hawaii Island prompted the temporary evacuation of two apartment buildings Friday evening before officials lifted the order as the fire moved away from the community.
The fire was reported about 4:20 p.m. on the south side of Waikoloa Road. As of 6:30 p.m., it had grown to about 200 acres, according to the County of Hawaiʻi Mayor’s Office.
The Hawaii Fire Department, assisted by volunteer firefighters, responded with helicopters, engines, a tanker and brush trucks to battle the blaze.
Residents of Buildings 4 and 5 at The Lofts on Pua Melia Street were evacuated as a precaution, but the order was lifted around 7:15 p.m. after firefighters reported south-to-southwest winds were pushing the fire away from Waikoloa Village. A temporary evacuation shelter at Waikoloa Elementary School was also closed, allowing all displaced residents to return home.
Officials said no injuries have been reported and there is no imminent threat to developed residential areas. No homes, buildings or other infrastructure have been damaged.
Road closures remain in effect. Waikoloa Road is closed between Paniolo Avenue and Highway 190, while the stretch between Paniolo Avenue and Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway is open only to local traffic. Motorists should expect delays and avoid the area if possible.
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“The aggressive response by firefighters helped to quickly limit the hazard, but we’re urging residents to pay attention for any additional alerts if conditions change,” Mayor Kimo Alameda said in a statement.
Civil Defense Administrator Talmadge Magno also urged residents to prepare for wildfire season by reducing fire hazards around their homes and having an evacuation plan in place should conditions worsen.