A stubborn brush fire that forced the evacuation of 600 people from the Four Seasons Resort and has burned more than 1,000 acres on Lanai is still not considered contained, a spokesman for Maui County reported at 9:30 a.m. this morning.

However, fire officials are beginning to conduct mop up operations following a night of watchfulness and continued ground crew response.

In addition to the 600 employees and guests at the luxury resort who were evacuated, several Lanai residents were also forced to leave their homes because of the blaze.

Fire and police officials allowed evacuees to return to the resort and their homes late yesterday

afternoon. Evacuees had been gathered at the Manele Bay near the Lanai harbor facility and throughout the afternoon vessels from Trilogy and Expeditions were on stand-by to assist in evacuation efforts to Lahaina Harbor if necessary.

The American Red Cross and the Maui Visitors Bureau

were making preparations to provide shelter support should transport to Lahaina occur.

Two helicopters returned to the scene to conduct water drops this morning. Nine fire fighters from Maui were dispatched yesterday to assist the five Lanai personnel. Maui fire fighters remain on scene today.

No structures have been burned and no injuries are reported. Heavy smoke created difficult conditions for evacuees yesterday but no medical attention was reported necessary. The Maui Medevac EMS helicopter was activated and placed on stand by at the Lanai airport in preparation should any necessary patient evacuation or medical assistance be needed.

Conditions remain windy. The cause of the fire is under investigation.