Experts Arrive in Maui to Help Recover and Identify Victims of Historic Lahaina Fire
DNA specialists, post-Sept. 11 veterans, and anthropologists are among the experts who have traveled to Maui this week to join the extensive and painstaking process of recovering and identifying the remains of over 100 people who died in the devastating fire that engulfed the historic town of Lahaina in Hawaii last week. The death toll is likely to continue climbing as the search for victims continues.
Governor Josh Green of Hawaii stated on Monday that the number of victims could potentially double over the next 10 days. Many of the experts involved in the recovery efforts played similar roles in previous disasters, such as the Camp fire in 2018 in Northern California, which claimed 85 lives and destroyed the town of Paradise.
Forensic anthropologists from California State University, Chico, who assisted during the Camp fire, are now arranging travel to Hawaii to lend their expertise. Additionally, scientists from ANDE, a Colorado-based company that utilizes rapid DNA technology, have been on the ground in Hawaii for days, with more technicians on their way. ANDE’s technology can process DNA results in less than two hours, using a device the size of a laser printer.
Rescuers who worked at ground zero after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, in New York City are also present in Lahaina, alongside 20 cadaver dogs and a specialized mortuary unit from the federal government. The team arrived with a 22-ton mobile morgue equipped with examination tables, lab equipment, and X-ray machines.
As families anxiously await information about their missing loved ones, the final death toll from the fire is expected to rise in the coming weeks or even months. So far, only two of the 106 deceased individuals have been publicly identified.
One of the identified victims is 79-year-old Buddy Jantoc, a resident of Lahaina. His family had been growing increasingly worried as days passed without any news, and their fears were confirmed when authorities informed them of Jantoc’s death.
The search for remains in Lahaina is ongoing, with 32 percent of the burn zone already searched. The area remains closed to the public, causing frustration among residents who are unable to check on their properties. Maui’s police chief, John Pelletier, emphasized the importance of respecting the area and not trespassing, as it is a resting place for the victims.
DNA swabs are being collected from family members at a community center in Maui for comparison with recovered remains, and Chief Pelletier has urged relatives who are out of state to provide DNA samples to their local law enforcement agencies.
ANDE’s technology, which was partly funded by the Department of Homeland Security, has been utilized by law enforcement agencies for various purposes, including investigating crimes and identifying victims. ANDE’s Chief Information Officer, Stephen Meer, expressed confidence in the technique’s effectiveness but acknowledged that not all victims might be identifiable through DNA alone.
In addition to human remains, efforts are also underway to find and rescue lost and injured pets. Lisa Labrecque, the CEO of the Maui Humane Society, estimated that around 3,000 animals had been lost. The organization has received 367 reports of missing pets and has been rescuing injured or displaced animals daily. Reunions have already occurred for eight animals, while others have been sent to the mainland to make space for incoming pets affected by the fire.
Anthropologists have also been dispatched to aid in the process of identifying human remains, even if they are severely fragmented. Their expertise allows them to distinguish human remains from other materials that may resemble bones in the aftermath of such a destructive fire.
The recovery and identification process in Lahaina is expected to be lengthy and complex. However, with the help of these dedicated experts, authorities hope to bring closure to the families of the victims who perished in this tragic event.