© Provided by Honolulu KHNL Smoke from the fire billowed and was seen from miles around

PAIA, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Maui firefighters have fully contained a brush fire that started Saturday afternoon and prompted closures and evacuations.

MFD said the fire was contained by Sunday morning, but not before it blackened 600 acres in Paia on the Valley Isle.

“I would like to thank firefighters, police, private contractor heavy equipment crews and everyone who responded quickly to this brush fire that threatened Skill Village in Paia,” Mayor Michael Victorino said.

“Thankfully, there were no injuries or property damage, but we must remain vigilant and stay safe, especially as the New Year’s holiday approaches. Aerial fireworks are illegal, and I fully support the Maui Police Department in its enforcement of a new state law aimed at cracking down on illegal aerial fireworks,” Mayor Victorino added.

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The fire started around 1 p.m. in an area along the Old Maui High School on Holomua Road.

Some buildings in the area were evacuated and roads were closed briefly Saturday. The fire also led to a power outage in Paia Town.

MFD sent multiple ground and air units to battle the flames from all angles. They also worked alongside private water tankers.

“It got really, really close. There’s a lot of dry brush around Skill Village. It’s old cane land. The smoke got really thick. It was hard to see, hard to breathe. And it got really, really close,” resident Emily Drose said.

It’s not immediately known what sparked the fire.

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