NWS cancels red flag warning for leeward areas

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – High winds and dry conditions put most of the state under a red flag warning for most of the day Wednesday.
HECO said it was ready to activate its Public Safety Power Shutoff program in areas at risk of wildfires, but it wasn’t necessary.
The alert expired at 5 p.m. with no fires breaking out.
Some West Maui residents were anxious as the winds gusted above 40 miles an hour and they noticed all the dry grass.
Customers were urged to prepare for the possibility of extended power outages. If it was necessary, Hawaiian Electric said would will shut off power on other islands.
“We sincerely apologize for the disruption. We have activated our PSPS program as a last line of defense to protect lives and reduce the risk of a wildfire,” said Jim Alberts, Hawaiian Electric senior vice president and chief operations officer. “We will continue to monitor conditions closely and restore power as soon as we can safely do so.”
In wake of the red flag warning the superintendent for Baldwin Kekaulike Kulanihako’i Maui schools sent a letter to families saying in part:
“To ensure the safety of students and staff, schools consult with Department of Education leadership to determine if a closure is necessary… Throughout the day, we will continue to closely monitor campus conditions and communicate with the Maui Emergency Management Agency to assess safety risks for the Maui public school campuses. As part of our emergency procedures, we will notify our families immediately of any changes.”
For actions you can take to protect life and property from wildfires, click here.
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