HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Maui’s Honoapiilani Highway is back open in both directions Thursday following a brush fire near Maalaea.

County officials said the fire initially created plumes of smoke that impaired visibility.

The county briefly closed several portions of Honoapiilani Highway and N. Kihei Road. Motorists were urged to avoid the area and bystander video showed traffic backed up as helicopters dropped water droplets.

The roads were reopened around 2:30 p.m

The area is under a fire watch, as are the downwind areas of all islands, due to an increased fire threat from the combination of dry brush, low relative humidity and strong trade winds.

The Hawaii News Now First Alert Weather Team has declared Thursday and Friday First Alert Weather Days. Learn more here.

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