A fast-moving brush fire in West Maui has forced people out of Olowalu Village, and strong winds are making it worse — frightening for a community still scarred by the 2023 Lahaina fire.

• Olowalu Village residents are under an evacuation order, with the fire burning about a mile from the village center.
• The main highway is shut between Olowalu and North Kihei, and traffic is backed up for miles as police turn cars away from the west side.
• The fire is 40% contained, with three helicopters dropping water and crews coming in from central Maui.
• Hawaiian Electric has cut power to lines in the area after residents raised fears about sparking — the same worry that followed the 2023 disaster.
• No homes have been damaged so far, and temporary refuge points are open in Lahaina and Kihei, though they are not stocked like full shelters.

Outlook: Winds are picking up as a nearby hurricane passes to the south, so crews face a hard night and there is no word yet on when the highway reopens.