Updated at 10:15 p.m., Thursday, June 28, 2007
Highway reopened; Launiupoko evacuated
Advertiser Staff
Honoapi'ilani Highway was reopened to traffic tonight, police said at 9:48 p.m.Earlier, Maui police began evacuating residents in the Launiupoko area, a county press release said.
The subdivision adjoins the Olowalu area where a brushfire that started Wednesday morning has progressed to burning 1,400 acres.
The American Red Cross has re-opened the shelter at the Lahaina Gymnasium upstairs of the Lahaina Civic Center. The Red Cross will be activating a shelter in Central Maui shortly.
The fire also cut off land-line telephone service to West Maui, police Lt. Wallace Tom said at 9 p.m. Police advised people to try their cell phones or to go to the Lahaina police station, where radio communication was available.
