HAWAII FLAMES ENGULF KAHIKINUI AREA, FORCING OVER 100 HOMES TO EVACUATE

Maui, Hawaii - A fast-moving brush fire in the sparsely populated Kahikinui area on the southeastern side of the Hawaiian island of Maui has prompted a mass evacuation, affecting over 100 homes since its outbreak on Sunday. The wildfire, growing to approximately 500 acres by Sunday night, is located about 60 miles from the devastating 2023 Lahaina fire that claimed over 100 lives.

Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke and Mayor Richard Bissen have issued emergency proclamations, deploying the Hawaii National Guard for fire suppression duties and authorizing access to federal assistance. The American Red Cross has set up a shelter to support those affected by the blaze, which is believed to be contained but still poses a threat to surrounding areas.

The Kahikinui area, specifically designated for Native Hawaiians under the Kahikinui Kuleana Homestead Program, provides plots of land for self-sufficient living on unimproved lands. The program was established to promote community resilience and cultural preservation in the region.

Firefighters across the United States continue battling wildfires, with multiple fronts threatening communities across the American West, including the Pacific Northwest, Great Basin, California, and the Rockies. Rising temperatures and low humidity have exacerbated fire conditions, prompting local authorities to issue warnings and close trails and monuments.

A separate blaze in southern New Mexico has expanded to nearly 30 square miles, prompting evacuations and closures of national monuments and trails. In Oregon, at least dozens of homes were destroyed by a fire that began on Wednesday, despite being accompanied by an increased number of wildfires nationwide compared to last year.

According to recent data, total acreage burned remains relatively low, with over 2,700 firefighters currently working to contain the blazes across multiple fronts.