UPDATE: 7:20 p.m.

The Hawaii Fire Department says all Big Island “arterial roadways” are open, all residential areas are open, and Hisaoka Gym and Waimea Community Center, which were being used as emergency shelters, have returned to normal operations.

County officials noted that the National Weather Service’s red flag warning for leeward areas of the island remains in effect until 6 a.m. Thursday as critical fire weather conditions of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures continue to make for extreme fire danger.

“Please postpone and avoid all outdoor activities using open flames and parking of vehicles on dry vegetation after driving,” county officials said.

5:45 p.m.

Hawaii County officials said the remaining evacuation orders for the southern portion of Kohala Ranch have been lifted.

Access is now available via the Kohala Mountain Road and Highway 270.

Additionally, evacuation orders for the Villas and South Fairways at Mauna Kea have also been lifted, and access to and from the resort area is also now allowed. Guests at the resort are no longer required to shelter in place.

Brushfires that flared up Kau near Naalehu and Pahala have been “neutralized,” officials said.

There are no closures of any major highways on Hawaii island as a result of the South Kohala brushfires.

Shelters will remain open through 8 p.m at Hisaoka Park in Kapa’au and Waimea Community Center in Kamuela.

3 p.m.

The Hawaii Fire Department said additional brush fires have broken out in Kau near Naalehu and Pahala but that they are under control.

No structures are threatened, and no road closures are in place in the area.

Fire crews, meanwhile, continue to battle the three ongoing fires in North and South Kohala.

Mauna Kea Beach Drive on Mauna Kea Resort remains closed due to active firefighting.

Akoni Pule Highway has reopened and the mandatory evacuations of Kohala Ranch between Akoni Pule Highway and Kamakani Loop have lifted. There is still an evacuation order active for the Mauna Kea Resort Villas residential area.

The red flag warning indicating the presence of critical fire weather conditions remains in place for the leeward areas of all isles. The National Weather Service has extended the red flag warning to 6 a.m. Thursday.

Officials ask residents to postpone all outdoor activities using open flames, and to avoid parking vehicles on dry vegetation after driving.

12 p.m.

Hawaii County firefighters continue to battle three fires in North and South Kohala, according to a noon Civil Defense update.

Due to the fires, the following road closures remain in place:

>> Akoni Pule Highway between mile markers 6 to 17.

>> Mauna Kea Beach Drive due to active firefighting and evacuations.

Queen Kaahumanu Highway, however, is now open between mile marker 69 and Kawaihae Junction, according to county officials.

Mandatory evacuations for Kohala Ranch between Akoni Pule Highway and Kamakani Loop and the Mauna Kea Resort Villas residential area still remain in effect at this time.

Hawaii County Mayor Mitch Roth said at a press conference this morning that helicopters were doing water drops, but that the situation was still challenging due to a red flag warning that remains in place through 6 p.m. tonight.

“We appreciate all the support people have given us,” he said. “At this time, our thoughts and prayers are with Maui. We’re not out of the woods yet, but the situation on Maui should take precedence over us.”

The fire broke out early Tuesday, burned hundreds of acres and threatened about 200 homes in and around Kohala Ranch, a rural community with a population of more than 500.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Tuesday approved the state’s request for a disaster declaration to provide assistance with the Kohala Ranch wildfire on Hawaii island. The approval opens the door for federal reimbursement of up to 75% of eligible firefighting costs.

Hawaii island residents impacted by brush fires or high winds should report damages to Civil Defense at 808-935-0031.

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