Hawaii devastated by wildfires: 5 things to know

The Hawaiian island of Maui has been battered by a hurricane-propelled wildfire this week that has left dozens dead, a town destroyed and many others injured.

With at least 36 dead, the Maui wildfire has become one of the deadliest wildfires in the U.S. in recent years. Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen Jr. said in a recorded statement that the island had “been tested like never before in our lifetime.”

Here are five things to know about the wildfires.

Historic Lahaina eviscerated by the fire

The historic town of Lahaina on Maui was devastated by the wildfire that tore through the island this week.

Officials said Wednesday that at least 271 structures were left damaged or destroyed due to the wildfire. The Associated Press reported that most of Front Street, home to restaurants, stores and other businesses, was likely consumed by the fire.

The hall of historic Waiola Church in Lahaina and nearby Lahaina Hongwanji Mission are engulfed in flames along Wainee Street Aug. 8, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Matthew Thayer/The Maui News via AP)

Lahaina’s banyan tree — which was planted in 1873 and covers a whole acre — may have also been destroyed in the fire, according to the AP. The fig tree, which has roots that grow out of branches to reach the soil, is believed to be the largest of its kind in the U.S.

The town was named the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1802 and served as the center of government for more than 50 years, according to the Lahaina Town website. Photos of the damage show the downtown area surrounded by flames and plumes of smoke.

It is feared that many of its 60 historical sites will not be recovered due to the fire. One of those sites is the 200-year-old Waiola Church, which was photographed engulfed in flames earlier this week.

Cause of fire remains unknown

Army Maj. Gen. Kenneth Hara told reporters Wednesday that the initial cause of the fires was unclear, but he noted that a months-long drought, low humidity and high winds likely contributed to their spread.

The fires on Maui have been fueled by Hurricane Dora, which was churning hundreds of miles south of Hawaii. Maui saw wind gusts of up to 80 mph, which also grounded emergency helicopters from responding to the flames, Hara said.

This photo provided by the County of Maui shows fire and smoke filling the sky from wildfires on the intersection at Hokiokio Place and Lahaina Bypass in Maui, Hawaii, Aug. 8, 2023. (Zeke Kalua/County of Maui via AP)

Adam Weintraub, the communication director of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, said that the high winds also made it difficult to predict where the flames would go. He said Thursday that the agency had a “good advance picture” from the National Weather Service that the region would face the “potential for extreme fire behavior,” but the flames were unpredictable in the wind environment.

“When you get a flame in dry vegetation, in low humidity, in that kind of a wind environment, the flames can go anywhere,” Weintraub said on NBC’s “Today” show.

At least 36 killed, many injured 

Maui County officials announced late Wednesday that at least 36 people have been killed due to the wildfires in west Maui.

Officials also said that dozens of people were injured due to the fires, adding that numerous shelters have also been opened on the island for those who needed to flee their homes. The American Red Cross said there were about 942 people across three shelters, according to Maui County.

A wildfire burns in Kihei, Hawaii, late Aug. 9, 2023. Thousands of residents raced to escape homes on Maui as blazes swept across the island, destroying parts of a centuries-old town in one of the deadliest U.S. wildfires in recent years. (AP Photo/Ty O’Neil)

Some individuals took to the ocean to escape the flames, with the Coast Guard revealing Wednesday that it had rescued 14 people off the shore of Lahaina.

Biden sent military to aid with response

President Biden on Wednesday ordered “all available Federal assets” to respond to the wildfires that ravaged the island.

Biden said in a statement that the U.S. Coast Guard and the Navy 3rd Fleet are “supporting response and rescue efforts” on the Hawaiian island, noting that the Hawaiian National Guard mobilized Chinook helicopters to also help with fire suppression and search-and-rescue efforts.

President Biden speaks in Auburn, Maine, July 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

He noted that the Army also supplied Black Hawk helicopters to help battle the flames on the Big Island, which has also seen wildfires but has not reported severe damage or injuries.

Biden also signed a major disaster declaration on Thursday for the state to free up additional federal funding. The White House said the assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, certain loans to cover property losses and other programs for home and business owners.

Tourists were evacuated from the island

Ed Sniffen, director of Hawaii’s Department of Transportation, said at the Wednesday press conference that officials evacuated more than 11,000 tourists out of Maui as of Wednesday, noting that about 600 people were scheduled to stay overnight at the airport.

The state’s Department of Transportation has coordinated multiple mass bus evacuations to take people to Kahului Airport to fly off the island. This comes as United Airlines and American Airlines both said they are sending planes to Maui for passenger evacuations.

People gather while waiting for flights at the Kahului Airport Aug. 9, 2023, in Kahului, Hawaii. Several thousand Hawaii residents raced to escape homes on Maui as the Lahaina fire swept across the island. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Biden also said Wednesday that the federal Transportation Department was working with airlines to evacuate tourists from the island. San Francisco Mayor London Breed was also among the thousands of tourists evacuated from Maui, Politico reported.

Updated at 3:34 pm.