WAILUKU, Hawaii. Thousands of Hawaii residents raced to escape their homes on Maui as wildfires swept across the island, causing widespread destruction and claiming the lives of at least 36 people. The fires have led to one of the deadliest wildfire incidents in recent U.S. history.
The fire caught the island off-guard, leaving charred vehicles on streets that were once bustling and reducing historic structures to smoking debris in Lahaina Town, a settlement dating back to the 1700s that had been a popular tourist destination. Firefighting crews have been engaged in battling blazes at multiple locations on the island. The intensity of the flames compelled both adults and children to seek refuge in the ocean.
According to a late Wednesday statement from Maui County, the death toll has reached 36, with no further details available at the moment. Earlier reports indicated that 271 structures were damaged or completely destroyed, and several individuals sustained injuries. For comparison, the devastating 2018 Camp Fire in California claimed the lives of at least 85 people and razed nearly 19,000 homes, businesses, and structures, virtually wiping out the town of Paradise.
Kamuela Kawaakoa and Iiulia Yasso, residents of Lahaina, recounted a harrowing escape from their smoke-filled surroundings on Tuesday. The couple and their 6-year-old son managed to return to their apartment briefly to gather essentials, witnessing the bushes around them catching fire. As Kawaakoa recounted at an evacuation shelter, they barely escaped the unfolding inferno, and their apartment’s fate remains uncertain.
Amid their escape, a senior center nearby was engulfed in flames. The couple dialed 911, but the fate of the people inside remained unknown. Downed utility poles and fellow evacuees slowed their progress as they fled the danger zone. Kawaakoa, who grew up in the Lahaina Surf apartment building, expressed his sense of helplessness as he watched his hometown succumb to the flames.
Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen Jr. addressed the unprecedented challenge the island is facing, stating, “We are grieving with each other during this inconsolable time.” He emphasized the unity of the community and their determination to rebuild with resilience and aloha.
As the fires continued to rage, tourists were advised to steer clear of the affected areas. Approximately 11,000 visitors left Maui on Wednesday, with an additional 1,500 expected to depart on Thursday, according to Ed Sniffen, the state’s transportation director. Preparations were underway to accommodate the displaced at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu.
The fires were fueled by strong winds generated by Hurricane Dora, which was passing far to the south. This event adds to a series of disasters worldwide attributed to extreme weather, with experts pointing to climate change as a factor intensifying the frequency and severity of such incidents.
Hawaiian wildfires differ from those experienced in the U.S. West, often igniting in expansive grasslands on the islands’ dry sides and typically being smaller in scale compared to mainland fires. A significant fire on the Big Island in 2021 resulted in home destruction and widespread evacuations.
As the winds subsided somewhat on Maui, certain flights resumed, allowing pilots to survey the extent of the devastation. Aerial footage from Lahaina depicted numerous homes and businesses reduced to rubble, including the iconic Front Street where tourists once congregated. The aftermath revealed heaps of smoking debris, charred boats in the harbor, and the stark remains of trees consumed by the flames.
The power outage impacted approximately 14,500 customers in Maui early on Wednesday. Due to disrupted cell service and phone lines in certain areas, many struggled to establish contact with loved ones near the fire zones, leading some to turn to social media for communication.
Maj. Gen. Kenneth Hara of the Hawaii State Department of Defense conveyed efforts to restore communication, distribute water, and potentially deploy additional law enforcement personnel. National Guard helicopters contributed to fire suppression by dropping 150,000 gallons of water on the Maui fires.
The Coast Guard disclosed that they rescued 14 individuals who had jumped into the water to escape the encroaching flames and smoke, including two children. Among the injured were three individuals with critical burns who were transported to Oahu for medical treatment.
While investigations into the immediate cause of the fires had not yet commenced, officials pointed to the combination of dry conditions, low humidity, and high winds as contributing factors. Witness accounts, such as that of Mauro Farinelli, highlighted the rapid and devastating spread of the flames, fueled by strong winds.
President Joe Biden authorized the deployment of all available federal resources to aid in the response efforts. He expressed his solidarity with those affected and underscored the mobilization of the Hawaii National Guard to assist in fire suppression and search and rescue missions.
Former President Barack Obama, who has personal ties to Hawaii, shared his concern on social media, stating, “It’s tough to see some of the images coming out of a place that is so special to many.”
In addition to Maui, wildfires were reported on Hawaii’s Big Island, although no injuries or destroyed homes had been reported there. Acting Gov. Sylvia Luke issued an emergency proclamation on behalf of Gov. Josh Green, urging tourists to avoid the affected areas due to safety concerns.
Governor Green curtailed his trip and returned earlier than planned to oversee response efforts. Local resident Alan Dickar, who experienced the devastating effects firsthand, expressed his determination, saying, “Every significant thing I owned burned down today. I’ll be OK. I got out safely.”
AP contributed to this report.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
