Fires that burned 5,200 acres, threatened a hospital and closed a main highway several times have officially been declared out.

Motorists in the Ka‘u town are advised to use Kamani Street until the downed pole is cleared.

Maintaining perimeters and extinguishing hot spots were the aim of firefighters as the massive Ka‘u fire entered its fifth day.

The rural hospital’s contingent of long-term-care patients is back following a stiff regimen of cleaning and ventilating.

Firefighters are in the mop-up stage on a fire that blackened more 4,800 acres this week near Pahala.

Firefighters continue to battle a blaze in Ka‘u that has more than doubled in size over the past day and threatened several homes in the sprawling district.

A wildfire that resulted in the evacuation of Ka‘u Hospital is still only 40% contained and has prompted the closure of Highway 11 from Pahala to five miles north of the town.

Police said motorists should expect delays because of the closure of one of the lanes of Highway 11 near the 45-mile marker because of a small brush fire.

The county will use state funding to build a new gym for Ka‘u High and Pahala Elementary School that will also serve as a shelter from hurricanes and vog.