The Latest: Brush fire disrupts flights to Hawaii airport

WAILUKU, Hawaii (AP) — The Latest on a brush fire on the Hawaii island of Maui (all times local):

6 p.m.

The Hawaii Department of Transportation says flights are being diverted from the Kahului airport on the island of Maui because of a brush fire.

The agency said on Twitter Thursday the fire was affecting access to the airport.

Hawaiian Airlines says its flights to the airport are currently operating as scheduled, but spokesman Alex Da Silva says the airline is urging passengers to check the status of their flights because the situation is evolving.

Officials have ordered some residents to evacuate.

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4:30 p.m.

Hawaii emergency officials have ordered an evacuation on Maui due to a runaway brush fire.

The Maui News reports access in and out of Kihei on Maui was blocked as of 3:15 p.m. Thursday.

Officials say the fire started along Kuihelani Highway Thursday morning.

A Maui County official says an evacuation was ordered around 3 p.m. and a notice was sent to the cellphones of residents north of Ohukai Road and Maalaea.

The official says shelters were set to open at 3:30 p.m. at the War Memorial Gym and at 5 p.m. at the Velma McWayne Santos Community Center for Maalaea evacuees.

The official says residents evacuating homes in north Kihei could go to a shelter at Kamalii Elementary School beginning at 3:30 p.m.

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Information from: The Maui News, http://www.mauinews.com