A brush fire near Olowalu on Maui burns over 100 acres amid high winds from Hurricane Nolo. Evacuations ordered, 740 customers lose power.

Here's where things stood Saturday night, Sept. 26, on Maui. A brush fire near Olowalu Village in West Maui prompted an evacuation order for residents from Luawai to Ehehene Streets, Hawaii Public Radio reports. The fire was first reported just before 2 p.m., and the Maui Emergency Management Agency sounded sirens at 2:40 p.m. Ground crews fought it amid high winds caused by Hurricane Nolo, while helicopters made water drops until sunset. Maui County officials said it had burned over 100 acres and was about 40% contained as of Saturday night, with no structures impacted. Honoapiʻilani Highway was closed from North Kīhei to the Olowalu General Store for much of the afternoon and evening, then reopened around 10:30 p.m. The Lahaina Civic Center Gym opened as an emergency shelter, and South Maui Community Park Gym in Kīhei opened as a temporary evacuation point. At the fire department's request, for firefighter safety, Hawaiian Electric de-energized lines from Ukumehame to Lahainaluna Road, leaving about 740 customers without power, possibly overnight, since crews must inspect lines before restoring service. Let's call the science straight: a hurricane doesn't have to make landfall to cause trouble. Its winds can reach places the storm never touches, and wind plus dry brush is a bad pair. So know your evacuation zone before you need it, and sign up for your county's emergency alerts. When the sirens sound, leave. Don't wait for the smoke to convince you. Shelters here asked people to bring their own bedding, food and water, so keep a go-bag with all three. Conditions change fast, so check Maui County's latest updates. Wind doesn't need rain to be dangerous.