Polilce are ordering residents to evacuate their homes because of a change in wind conditions that is causing the brush fire on Molokai to change directions toward the Kalamaula Mauka area.

House-to-house notifications are going on now by police to the 25 residents in the area. Red Cross has opened an emergency shelter at the Mitchell Pauole Community Center in Kaunakakai for the displaced residents.
The evacuations came hours after a voluntary evacuation of the eastern part of Kaunakakai town when flames from the day-old brush fire came dangerously close to town today, Maui officials said.
The fire came with in 100 yards of the Hotel Molokai earlier today, said Michael Drew, hotel general manager.
"That was a little too close," said Drew. "There was a lot of smoke and I closed the restaurant and bar."

The fire began at 12:05 p.m. yesterday and by this afternoon had consumed more than 6,000 acres. A garage was damaged from the blaze and a firefighter suffered smoke inhalation yesterday.
Firefighters are now focusing on the eastern flank of the fire after having focused on the western flank earlier today.
At 2 a.m. this morning, Kaunakakai residents were advised to voluntarily evacuate as flames came within 20 feet of homes and residents protected their homes with garden hoses.

Firefighters today focused their energy on the eastern flank of the fire before the blaze turned back mauka.
At the Hotel Molokai, Drew is keeping the landscaping sprinklers going all day and night to keep a circle of wet green grass as a barrier in case the fire comes close again. Having to close the restaurant on a busy Sunday morning was a tough decision, Drew said, but one that had to be made for the sake of hotel employee welfare.

"It was a question of health and safety," he said. "It all depends on the winds. We'll have to keep an eye on it."
Fire officials report that no homes are in immediate danger. The cause of the fire is unknown.
As the winds shifted overnight and this morning, the fire approached a residential area of approximately 100 homes.
More than 30 firefighters worked overnight battling 17 different sections of the fire.
This morning, four helicopters resumed water drops, using Cooke Memorial Pool in Kaunakakai as a water source.
Yesterday afternoon crews from Maui’s Napili and Wailuku fire stations were dispatched to assist Molokai firefighters. Molokai’s three fire stations are located in Kaunakakai, Hoolehua and Pukoo.
The State Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Forestry and Wildlife has dispatched 23 of its wildland firefighters, who will be flown to Molokai today.
The firefighter who was treated for smoke inhalation at Molokai General Hospital yesterday remains in stable condition, county officials said.
To fight the blaze, firefighters are using five bulldozers, two loaders, and three water tankers are on scene from the county’s Department of Public Works, state agencies and private companies.
Blossom Poepoe at Kanemitsu Bakery & Restaurant in Kaunakakai said the area is air is a bit smokey, but not too dense with smoke.
"It's still visible around here, but hopefully it will burn away from things, but it looks like it's heating up again."