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KAILUA-KONA >> As the sun was setting Saturday, firefighters on the Big Island were still battling an uncontained brush fire fanned by 30-plus mph winds.
The blaze scorched 1,500 acres, closed roads and forced evacuations, reported West Hawaii Today.
The fast-moving fire closed Kawaihae Road and Queen Kaahumanu Highway and forced evacuations from Spencer Beach Park, Kawaihae Village, South Kohala homes and The Bluffs at Mauna Kea Resort.
Hawaii County firefighters and volunteer units from across Kohala were joined by crews from Pohakuloa Training Area, according to Civil Defense Chief Darryl Oliveira.
Evacuation centers were opened at Waikoloa Community Park and the Thelma Parker Gym in Waimea, said Oliveira. He said the fire was threatening structures at Kawaihae Transitional Housing on Saturday evening, but no homes had been reported damaged by just before 7 p.m.
Firefighters used water and foam to quell the flames, soaked down power poles and dropped water from two helicopters. A private bulldozer was also being used to break fire lines.
The fire spread to the south Saturday after originating near junction with Queen Kaahumanu Highway. It raced along lower Kawaihae Road’s south edge.
Drivers were told to use Kohala Mountain Road, Highway 190 and Waikoloa Road as alternate routes after Queen Kaahumanu Highway was closed to northbound traffic from the mile 62 marker.
Traffic was restricted to one lane on Kawaihae Road for the first couple hours as drivers had to avoid the bulky firetrucks. But the road was closed entirely mid-afternoon as the fire burned to the very edge of the road.
