A Big Island brushfire was seen early this morning on Waiemi Street in Kawaihae. Photo by Max Hagen

All roads have reopened.

The fires have burned more than 2,000 acres and firefighters planned to be on the scene throughout the night.

The evacuation order was a precaution to the smoke hazards from the brushfire, Civil Defense said.

It was pitch black outside early today when 21-year-old Max Hagen was awakened by a police officer banging on his window at 4 a.m. There was a fire outside, just 100 feet way from his neighbor's house in Kamuela.

"I went for the family photos," Hagen said. "My mom went into her office and grabbed the tax files and things like that."

The Hagen family and other residents in the small subdivision on Waiemi Street all decided to stay and not evacuate, Hagen said.

Luckily the tradewinds blew the smoke and flames in the opposite direction of the fire, he said. Firefighters were able to knock down the fire, which was not threatening homes.

Hagen's neighbor pulled out the garden house and began dousing his yard. A dirt road kept the fire at bay, he said.

"We're all thinking that there's a copycat out there, copying whatever happened in California and trying it out for themselves," Hagen said.

Shelters were opened at the Waikoloa Elementary School cafeteria and the Waimea Community Center, but few people used them.

Multiple brushfires, ignited about the same time, were set in the South Kohala area of the Big Island early this morning.

The fires reported at 3:20 a.m. today were down from nine to three major fires, officials said tonight. The most serious fire is burning on Puako Beach Road.

The fires temporarily closed Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway and are believed to have been intentionally set, said Troy Kindred, Big Island Civil Defense administrator.

"It's highly suspicious that nine fires started at the same time," Kindred said. "It's probably really unlikely that nine people threw cigarette butts out the window at the same time in different locations."