This Thursday, July 11, 2019 photo provided by the County of Maui shows a brush fire that has prompted evacuation orders and diverted flights on the island of Maui in Hawaii. Maui Fire Department officials said hot, dry and windy conditions Friday could worsen the fire. The National Guard is helping firefighters and conducting water drops with a helicopter. The blaze fueled by dry brush and strong winds erupted Thursday on northwestern side of the island, burning 14 square miles (36 square kilometers) of fields. (Chris Sugidono/County of Maui via AP)
The Associated Press
HONOLULU (AP) - Firefighters on the Hawaii island of Maui on Friday successfully tamed a large brush fire only to have another blaze ignite near several big box stores, sparking evacuations of a Target and Lowe's.
"We thought we had pretty much one controlled and a new one broke out," Maui Mayor Michael Victorino told reporters at a news briefing.
Victorino said an aerial survey of the south Maui fire indicated most of the hot spots were out. Hawaii Gov. David Ige said he declared Maui a disaster area to allow the state to provide quick and efficient relief to those affected.
Victorino roughly estimated the flames scorched 19 square miles (50 square kilometers) of mostly former sugar cane land since alighting Thursday.
The new fire emerged at about 1:30 p.m. in fields near several retail stores on the edge of Kahului town. Maui police were evacuating customers from a Target store. A Lowe's store had already voluntarily evacuated.
Maui Fire Services Chief Rylan Yatsushiro said the fire was moving fast amid brisk winds.
Authorities issued mandatory evacuation orders for the historic sugar mill in Puunene and Puunene School, a former school built by Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Co. in 1922.
An out of control wildfire that began along a major Central Maui highway burns Thursday July 11, 2019, in Maui, Hawaii. Hawaii emergency officials ordered an evacuation on Maui due to the runaway brush fire. (Matthew Thayer/The News via AP)
The Associated Press
A plume of smoke from a brush fire closes Kuihelani Highway in Central Maui, Hawaii, Thursday, July 11, 2019. Hawaii emergency officials ordered an evacuation on Maui due to the runaway brush fire. (Matthew Thayer/The News via AP)
The Associated Press
This Thursday, July 11, 2019 photo provided by the County of Maui shows Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino viewing a brush fire that has prompted evacuation orders and diverted flights on the island of Maui in Hawaii. Maui Fire Department officials said hot, dry and windy conditions Friday, July 12, 2019, could worsen the fire. The National Guard is helping firefighters and conducting water drops with a helicopter. The blaze fueled by dry brush and strong winds erupted Thursday on northwestern side of the island, burning 14 square miles (36 square kilometers) of fields. (Chris Sugidono/County of Maui via AP)
The Associated Press
This Thursday, July 11, 2019 photo provided by the County of Maui shows a brush fire that has prompted evacuation orders and diverted flights on the island of Maui in Hawaii. Maui Fire Department officials said hot, dry and windy conditions Friday, July 12, 2019, could worsen the fire. The National Guard is helping firefighters and conducting water drops with a helicopter. The blaze fueled by dry brush and strong winds erupted Thursday on northwestern side of the island, burning 14 square miles (36 square kilometers) of fields. (Chris Sugidono/County of Maui via AP)
The Associated Press
This Thursday, July 11, 2019 photo provided by the County of Maui shows a brush fire that has prompted evacuation orders and diverted flights on the island of Maui in Hawaii. Maui Fire Department officials said hot, dry and windy conditions Friday, July 12, 2019, could worsen the fire. The National Guard is helping firefighters and conducting water drops with a helicopter. The blaze fueled by dry brush and strong winds erupted Thursday on northwestern side of the island, burning 14 square miles (36 square kilometers) of fields. (Chris Sugidono/County of Maui via AP)
The Associated Press