UPDATE 9 P.M.:
The number of fatalities has reached 80 as firefighters continue to extinguish flare-ups and contain fires in Lahaina, Pulehu/Kihei and Upcountry, according to the county.
Another fire was reported at 6:10 p.m. Friday above Puukolii and was declared 100 percent contained before 8:30 p.m. The fire is in an area where a county fueling station was positioned Friday to distribute an estimated 3,000 gallons of gas and 500 gallons of diesel for an estimated 400 vehicles that were lined up before the operation began. No fuel will be distributed Saturday.
Access continues to be restricted into West Maui through both Maalaea and Waihee.
UPDATE 4:30 P.M.:
The road to Lahaina is now closed in both directions, the Maui Police Department said.
The closure came following a chaotic afternoon that saw Honoapiilani Highway reopen briefly at noon from Maalaea to Lahaina for residents and visitors with reservations. However, a car accident on Kuihelani Highway around 12:50 p.m. shut down the road and prompted county officials to tell people not to go to Lahaina.
Kuihelani Highway reopened shortly after, but around 4:30 p.m., police announced that the road to Lahaina was now closed in both directions.
UPDATE 3 P.M.:
The Lahaina fire is now 85 percent contained, the Pulehu/Kihei fire is 80 percent contained and the Upcountry fire is 50 percent contained, the county said at 3 p.m. Friday.
Firefighters are continuing to battle flare-ups in all three fires.
Kuihelani Highway has now reopened after closing temporarily due to a traffic collision.
The county had reopened the road to Lahaina around noon for West Maui residents and visitors with reservations. Barricades remain in place around Lahaina town, with police officers posted to keep people out of the areas.
With additional cell service becoming available in West Maui, people are reminded to text instead of making phone calls so everyone can share the limited resources, the county said.
Shuttles are operating from Kahului Airport and the three American Red Cross emergency shelters at Maui High, War Memorial Gym and Hannibal Tavares Community Center to take visitors to West Maui to retrieve belongings so they can depart Maui. One member of a family is allowed on the shuttles, which are going to hotels in the Kaanapali and Kapalua/Napili areas. Those dropped off by shuttle are being picked up an hour later and returned to the locations where they were picked up.
UPDATE 1:40 P.M.:
As firefighting efforts continue in Lahaina, 12 additional fatalities have been confirmed as of 1 p.m. today.
This brings the death toll to 67 people. The Lahaina fire is not yet contained.
Also Kuihelani Highway is closed in Waikapu due to a traffic collision and motorists are asked to avoid traveling to Lahaina.
Police are investigating in the area due to the collision around 12:50 p.m. today.
UPDATE 10 A.M.:
Access to West Maui via Maalaea will resume at noon today, Maui County announced.
Residents of West Maui must have identification showing proof of residency, and visitors must show proof of hotel reservations.
There will be no unauthorized public access beyond barricaded areas and a curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily in historic Lahaina town and affected areas.
Access to Lahaina at Maalaea also will be closed at 10 p.m. and reopened at 6 a.m. daily.
Limited access will be in effect until hazardous conditions improve.
West Maui remains without power and water, and search crews are continuing efforts in the Lahaina town area for victims of the fire.
UPDATE 2:45 A.M.:
Maui County raised the death toll to 55 late Thursday night as crews continued to put out flare-ups and contain fires in Lahaina, Pulehu/Kihei and Upcountry, the county said in an update at 2:45 a.m. Friday.
Twenty-one firefighters from the Honolulu Fire Department, seven supervisory personnel and four vehicles came to Maui to help boost firefighting efforts.
A Federal Emergency Management Agency search-and-rescue team with the Nevada Task Force arrived Thursday night with two K-9 cadaver dogs.
Authorities are combing the fire-damaged areas as families search for missing loved ones and struggle to connect due to a lack of cell service.
Some cellphone service was available in West Maui, according to the county, which advised people who have cell service and cannot make a call to try texting instead.
Six emergency shelters are currently open, including War Memorial Gym in Wailuku; Hannibal Tavares Community Center in Pukalani; and Maui High School, King’s Cathedral, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Maui Lani and Grace Bible Church, all in Kahului.
Donations of nonperishable food, bottled water, hygiene items and blankets are being accepted from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday at the War Memorial Complex. Also needed are slippers, men’s underwear, clothing, pillows, large duffel bags and storage containers.
In West Maui, food, water, supplies and clothing will be distributed to residents from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. A limited supply of baby products will also be given out.
Gas has also been a major need — a Maui Oil tanker parked on the side of the road in north Kaanapali provided fuel for West Maui residents from noon to 5:30 p.m., pumped 370 gallons of diesel and 2,198 gallons of gas.
Twenty-five buses operating a shuttle from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday transported more than 1,200 visitors from Kaanapali hotel areas to the Kahului Airport. On Thursday, more than 14,900 visitors left on flights department Maui.
Maui County also said power was restored to all Upcountry water pumping stations. Water will be restored after lines are flushed.
County refuse collection in West Maui will also resume on Friday.
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