Hawaii’s Moma Elementary School closes amid wildfire evacuation

The Moma school closed Friday after the evacuation order was lifted for residents in a remote area of the island.

The school was evacuated about 10:30 p.m. and closed for the next 72 hours after officials found that the wildfire had destroyed more than 10,000 acres.

The evacuees were moved to other locations in the area and returned to the island for a day to rest and recharge their batteries, Superintendent John Kiel told reporters.

The district said in a news release Friday that the school is now open for students, staff and teachers.

Residents were given notice of the evacuation Friday afternoon and will be able to return to their homes once the school reopens.

Officials in the Mula area are also evacuating nearby communities.

The Mula school, one of several located in a region of the Hawaiian Islands known for its natural beauty, has been closed since Monday.

The closure was a result of the fires, which burned through the region in the past month.

Hawaii Gov.

David Ige ordered the evacuation of all schools and community centers in the Kailua-Kona-Oahu (Koa’olani) and Maui (Maui) areas Friday afternoon.

Residents in the three districts were ordered to evacuate after the fires broke out, and officials also closed all businesses, according to a statement from the governor’s office.

The fire burned about 40,000 hectares and destroyed more of the state’s forests.

Kailu-O’oana, Maui-Oahana and Kona’i counties have also been ordered to remain closed.

Ige has been working closely with the state fire marshal to determine how to safely and safely reopen schools, according the statement.

The governor has also directed all schools to remain open as a precaution.

Kaelin R. O’Connor is a freelance reporter for Vice News covering education and social justice.

You can follow her on Twitter: @kaelin.