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Maui brush fire leads to evacuation order

Click to play video: '‘Out-of-control’ brush fire on Hawaii’s Maui island forces evacuations'
‘Out-of-control’ brush fire on Hawaii’s Maui island forces evacuations
ABOVE: A massive uncontrolled brush fire raged through Maui's central valley in Hawaii on Thursday already burning through 3,000 acres and forcing people to evacuate the area – Jul 12, 2019

Hawaii emergency officials have ordered an evacuation on Maui due to a runaway brush fire.

The Maui News reports access in and out of Kihei on Maui was blocked as of 3:15 p.m. Thursday.

Officials say the fire started along Kuihelani Highway Thursday morning.

A Maui County official says an evacuation was ordered around 3 p.m. and a notice was sent to the cellphones of residents north of Ohukai Road and Maalaea.

The official says shelters were set to open at 3:30 p.m. at the War Memorial Gym and at 5 p.m. at the Velma McWayne Santos Community Center for Maalaea evacuees.

The official says residents evacuating homes in north Kihei could go to a shelter at Kamalii Elementary School beginning at 3:30 p.m.

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– More to come.

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