The brush fire that originated Sunday morning at Keauhou Ranch on Hawaii island doubled to 1,485 acres overnight, according to National Park Service officials.

Exacerbated by dry, windy conditions, the fire is now mostly within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, and had consumed 1,250 acres of native forest on both sides of Mauna Loa Road by Tuesday morning. The blaze remains uncontained and is now less than a half-mile from the Kipuka Ki Special Ecological Area, which is home to threatened and endangered plants and animals.

The fire — at the 4,500- to 4,800-foot elevation mark — is moving west toward Kapapala Ranch. No homes or structures are currently threatened, posing no threat to the Volcano community at this time.

Fire officials said Tuesday that two fire crews with a total of 30 personnel were arriving from the mainland to help the 20 fighting the fire.

Absentee voting sites close for storm threat

Hawaii County said today it will close the absentee walk-in voting sites at Pahoa and Pahala community centers today due to the threat posed by Hurricane Hector.

The two voting sites also might be closed Thursday, depending on post-storm conditions, the county said. All other absentee walk-in voting sites will remain open, subject to weather conditions.

Absentee walk-in voting throughout the island began July 30 and ends Thursday. Primary election day is Saturday.

For more information, call the Elections Office at 961-8673 or email hiloelec@hawaiicounty.gov.