UPDATE: Kona Brush Fire Threatens Homes

***Updated at 5:30 p.m. to include information from the Hawai’i Police Department.***

The intersection of Kalolia Street and Lako Street has been reopened, according to the Hawai’i Police Department.

***Updated at 4:50 p.m. to include additional information from the Hawai’i County Fire Department.***

A total of about 25 acres have been burned in a brush fire that began a little before 12 p.m. Wednesday.

Hawai’i County Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief Glen Honda told Big Island Now just after 4:30 p.m., that the fire’s active burning had for the most part subsided.

Earlier in the afternoon an official containment number of about 50 percent was reported.

Fire crews are working to establish a break on the north side of the fire, which is set to be completed by sundown. Existing fire breaks are also being cleared.

Chief Honda said that active evacuations are over. Those who left their homes voluntarily have been allowed to go back.

An emergency evacuation center was opened at the Kekuaokalani Gym in Kona this afternoon, however Chief Honda said the resource was not utilized by anyone who evacuated. The center has since been closed.

No damage to any homes or structures has been noted, according to Chief Honda, who said the fire came up to the fire break in the back of homes but did not cross.

Crews will be on scene throughout the evening and overnight to maintain control of the fire and watch for flare ups.

The intersection of Kololia and Lako Street remains closed as of 4:50 p.m.

***Updated at 2 p.m. with road closure information from the Hawai’i Police Department.***

Hawai’i County Civil Defense and the Hawai’i County Fire Department says a runaway brush fire that broke out Wednesday at 11:37 a.m. is at risk to homes in the Komohana Kai subdivision.

The fire is located between Kololia Street and Halawai Place, off of Lako Street.

Some residents in the area have voluntarily evacuated because of heavy smoke in the area, according to Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira.

An emergency evacuation center has been opened at the Kekuaokalani Gym in Kona, located at the Old Kona Airport.

The Hawai’i Police Department reports that the intersection of Kololia and Lako Street is closed because of the fire.

Photo credit: Joe Fairchild.

Photo credit: Mark Berezhkov.

Photo credit: Mark Berezhkov.

Photo credit: Mark Berezhkov.