Multiple fire crews and federal units are battling the North Shore wildfire. Carroll Cox special to The Advertiser

People had been evacuated from homes on Hukilau Loop and Otaki Camp near Hale'iwa.

An evacuation center was set up at Waialua District Park, officials said. However, because of a power failure, the shelter was moved to Whitmore Community Park and was expected to open at 8 p.m., the Red Cross said. About 20 people would be transferred from the Waialua center to the Whitmore location, the Red Cross said. The address of the Whitmore facility is 1259 Whitmore Avenue.

Electrical and telephone service was reported to be out in several areas.

Janet Crawford, HECO spokeswoman, said power to 1,130 customers was cut off at the request of the Fire Department for safety reasons. The power was cut off at about 5 p.m.

HECO crews are on the scene trouble-shooting and monitoring the situation, she said.

Smoke from the fire was visible as far away as Makaha.

The fire, which started about 2:30 p.m., forced the closure of Kaukonahua Road at 3:30 p.m. It had burned 1,000 acres and was spreading, HFD said.

Twenty fire companies plus federal units were on the scene at 5 p.m., HFD Capt. Terry Seelig said.