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Hawaiian Electric is monitoring high winds and dry conditions on parts of Hawaii Island which could lead to an increased risk of wildfires.

As a precaution, Hawaii Electric’s Public Safety Power Shutoff program currently is in a “watch” condition, meaning that if weather conditions intensify in the next 24 to 48 hours, the utility may proactively shut off power in communities with high exposure to wildfire risk.

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According to a Hawaii Electric map, the populated areas on the Big Island that could be subjected to a power shutoff include Waikoloa, Kailua-Kona, Holualoa, Keauhou and the Kawaihae area.

During this watch period, customers in these areas are urged to initiate their own emergency plans and prepare for the possibility of extended power outages.

“A watch doesn’t mean we will shut off power, only that we are monitoring it closely in areas at the highest risk for wildfires,” Jim Alberts, Hawaiian Electric senior vice president and chief operations officer, said in a news release. “While we hope shutting off power won’t be necessary, we have to take this threat seriously and we urge our customers to be prepared and stay informed.”

Outages that are not related to the company’s PSPS program could still occur due to high winds and other conditions.

For more information and maps, call Hawaiian Electric’s PSPS hotline at 1-844-483-8666 toll-free or go to hawaiianelectric.com/PSPS.

Hawaiian Electric will provide updates frequently through the news media and the following mobile-friendly resources:

— Website: hawaiianelectric.com

— Twitter/X: @HwnElectric, @hielectriclight

— Facebook: facebook.com/HawaiianElectric

— Mobile app: free download available on Apple App and Google Play stores