A brush fire in Hawaii fanned by high winds raced through more than 500 acres within hours, forcing closure of Maui's Haleakala National Park on Thursday while residents of the picturesque island continue to grapple with fallout from last year's historic blaze − the nation's most deadly wildfire in more than a century.
Fire officials said the current fire was sweeping southeast, driven by 40 mph winds. No homes had burned, but authorities issued an alert at 3 a.m. local time warning area residents to prepare for possible evacuation orders. Dozens of firefighters and tankers were battling the flames, and the county website was providing residents with updates on the fire's spread.
"The safety of our community is our top priority, and we need your cooperation to ensure everyone's well being," the Maui Fire Department said in its alert.