Maui North Shore Bush Fire

I know that it is easy to exaggerate the severity of events, but a bush fire here on north shore of Maui this afternoon has set phones buzzing with alerts, road closures and stores closing in the town of Paia. I have been nowhere near that area today, so cannot speak to what is exactly happening on the ground (though friends live and work nearby). However, I can see smoke rising over the hills to the west. The town of Paia, which is just north of the fire, is only twenty minutes drive away.

Ever since the Lahaina fires two years ago I feel that the authorities are on a heightened state of alert for when a fire arises. Hawaiian Electric will shut down power to areas if extreme weather events happen. None of this is helped by the dryness of the island.

Smoke can still be seen over the hills, but not the rising plume of earlier. More spread out and hazy. Let’s hope that that is a sign of some control being gained. I’ll be checking the news through the evening. Meanwhile the Hana Highway looks eerily quiet.