Deadliest Wildfire in Over a Century Devastates Historic Maui Town
LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — The death toll from a wildfire that swept through the historic town of Lahaina in Maui has risen to 93, making it the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century. Authorities have warned that the effort to find and identify the dead is still in its early stages, with crews and cadaver dogs having covered just 3% of the search area.
Maui Police Chief John Pelletier expressed the challenges faced in identifying the victims, stating that the remains have been through a fire that melted metal, making them difficult to handle. Only two people have been identified so far. Pelletier urged people with missing family members to go to a family assistance center to take a DNA test in order to help identify their loved ones.
The devastation caused by the wildfire is extensive, with at least 2,200 buildings damaged or destroyed in West Maui alone. The damage across the island is estimated to be close to $6 billion. As many as 4,500 people are in need of shelter, according to county officials.
The wildfire in Lahaina is the most serious of three fires that have been burning on Maui. The other two fires, in south Maui’s Kihei area and in the mountainous inland communities known as Upcountry, have not reported any fatalities. However, the Upcountry fire has affected 544 structures, mostly homes.
Governor Josh Green described the wildfire as the worst natural disaster that Hawaii has ever faced. He emphasized the need to support those who have survived and provide them with housing and healthcare, as well as focusing on the rebuilding efforts.
Residents who managed to escape the flames expressed their gratitude for being alive while mourning the loss of those who did not make it. Retired fire captain Geoff Bogar and his friend Franklin Trejos, who had stayed behind to help others, were forced to flee as the fire approached. Bogar was able to escape, but Trejos did not survive. Trejos’ remains were found in the back seat of Bogar’s car, along with the remains of their beloved golden retriever.
The wildfires in Maui are the deadliest natural disaster in Hawaii in decades, surpassing the death toll of a 1960 tsunami that killed 61 people. The state’s emergency management records do not indicate that the warning sirens sounded before the fire hit Lahaina, although alerts were sent to mobile phones, televisions, and radio stations.
The wildfires were fueled by dry conditions and strong winds from a passing hurricane. The firefighting efforts were hampered by limited staff and equipment, with only around 65 county firefighters responsible for three islands. Despite the challenges, volunteers and residents have come together to support those affected by the disaster, unloading essential supplies from boats and providing assistance at emergency shelters.
As the search and identification efforts continue, the community remains resilient, determined to rebuild and support one another in the face of this devastating tragedy.Deadly Wildfire in Maui Town Leaves 93 Dead, Search Efforts Continue
LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — The death toll from a devastating wildfire that swept through the historic town of Lahaina in Maui has risen to 93, making it the deadliest wildfire in the United States in over a century. Authorities have warned that the search and identification process for the victims is still in its early stages.
Maui Police Chief John Pelletier stated on Saturday that crews with cadaver dogs have only covered 3% of the search area so far. The search area spans at least 5 square miles and is filled with the remains of loved ones. Pelletier emphasized that the number of dead is expected to increase, and the true extent of the tragedy is still unknown.
Federal emergency workers have been combing through the charred landscape left by the fire, marking the ruins of homes with a bright orange “X” to indicate an initial search and “HR” when human remains are found. However, identifying the victims has proven to be challenging due to the severe damage caused by the fire. Pelletier explained that the remains have been through a fire that melted metal, making it difficult to preserve them. So far, only two people have been identified.
The search efforts have been accompanied by the barks of cadaver dogs, alerting their handlers to potential remains. Governor Josh Green described the wildfire as the worst natural disaster that Hawaii has ever faced. He emphasized the need to support those who survived and provide them with housing and healthcare, while also focusing on the process of rebuilding.
The wildfire has caused extensive damage, with at least 2,200 buildings damaged or destroyed in West Maui alone. The estimated cost of the damage across the island is close to $6 billion.
In addition to the devastating fire in Lahaina, two other fires have been burning on Maui, but no fatalities have been reported from those blazes. The Upcountry fire has affected 544 structures, mostly homes.
As many as 4,500 people are in need of shelter, according to county officials. Pelletier urged people with missing family members to go to a family assistance center to take a DNA test in order to help identify the victims.
Survivors expressed gratitude for their own lives while mourning the loss of those who did not make it. One survivor, retired fire captain Geoff Bogar, discovered the remains of his friend Franklin Trejos in his car, along with the remains of their beloved 3-year-old golden retriever Sam.
The death toll from this wildfire surpasses that of the 2018 Camp Fire in northern California, which left 85 dead and destroyed the town of Paradise. It is also the deadliest natural disaster in Hawaii in decades.
The cause of the wildfire is still under investigation, but it is believed to have been fueled by dry conditions and strong winds from a passing hurricane. The firefighting efforts on Maui may have been hindered by limited staff and equipment.
Amidst the devastation, the community has come together to support those affected. Volunteers have been unloading essential supplies from a catamaran that sailed from another part of Maui, providing aid to hotel employees who lost their homes and are now living at their workplaces.
The resilience and unity of the Maui community have been evident in the face of this traumatic event. The road to recovery will be long, but the spirit of aloha remains strong.
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Associated Press writers Rebecca Boone in Boise, Idaho; Andrew Selsky in Bend, Oregon; Bobby Caina Calvan in New York; Audrey McAvoy in Wailuku, Hawaii; Ty O’Neil in Lahaina, Hawaii; and Lisa J. Adams Wagner in Evans, Georgia contributed to this report.
How has the community responded and provided assistance to those affected by the wildfire
Loss of life and property, the wildfire has displaced thousands of residents. County officials estimate that as many as 4,500 people are in need of shelter. Efforts are underway to provide these individuals with temporary housing and support services.
The wildfire in Lahaina is the most severe of three fires that have been burning on Maui. The other two fires, in Kihei and Upcountry, have not resulted in any fatalities. However, the Upcountry fire has affected over 500 structures, mainly homes.
The wildfires were fueled by dry conditions and strong winds from a passing hurricane, making firefighting efforts challenging. The limited number of personnel and equipment further hampered these efforts. County firefighters, numbering approximately 65, are responsible for managing fires on three islands.
Despite these challenges, volunteers and residents have come together to provide assistance and support to those affected by the wildfire. Supplies have been unloaded from boats, and aid has been provided at emergency shelters.
As the search and identification process continues, the community remains resilient and determined to rebuild and support one another in the face of this devastating tragedy.
