PHOTOS: Waikoloa Village sidestepped catastrophe Sunday, at least in part due to a specific maneuver by firefighters to halt an enormous brushfire before it could find its way into the community.
Working through the night, crews from the State and County of Hawai´i, in conjunction with those stationed at the Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA), conducted what is known as a “back burn” near Waikoloa Access Road to limit the advance of the original fire moving southwest toward the Village.
Mayor Mitch Roth lifted a mandatory evacuation order for the area at around 7 pm Sunday evening, approximately seven hours after issuing it and cuing a mass exodus. Waikoloa Village remains a safe area, though residents should remain on the lookout, as problematic wind patterns are expected to persist in the region through Tuesday night.