(UPDATED)

The Hawaiʻi County Fire Department is battling an active brush fire in Kailua-Kona, between Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway and Kuakini Highway, near the University of Nations. The fire has prompted evacuations of the Kona Hillcrest subdivision and the Pottery Terrace Industrial Area.

An evacuation shelter has been set up at the Kailua Park Gymnasium (the Old Kona Airport). Fire and Police are going door-to-door in the affected neighborhoods to get residents out safely.

At this time, there is no information related to the cause of the fire.  The situation remains fluid and additional evacuations may be necessary, as the brushfire is not yet contained.