Firefighters continue to battle Big Island blaze

Efforts to extinguish a 90 acre brush fire that threatened homes on the Big Island resume this morning in North Kohala.
The fire broke out at about 11:30 a.m. yesterday near power lines and the scenic lookout on Kohala Mt. Road near the seven mile marker.  The fire spread quickly makai because of dry conditions and gusty winds, the fire department said.
The road connecting North Kohala to Waimea was closed and traffic was diverted to Akoni Pule Highway and Kawaihae Road.
Firefighters, local residents and volunteers worked to keep fire from burning four residential homes,ranch lands and neighboring communities. Fire crews monitored the fire overnight and were to resumed firefighting efforts at daylight today.