Wind-Whipped Wildfires Ravage Hawaii’s Maui, Prompting Evacuations and Coastal Rescues
HONOLULU (AP) — On Wednesday, wind-whipped wildfires tore through parts of Hawaii, causing significant property damage in historic Lahaina Town on Maui Island. As a result, evacuations were ordered, and some residents sought refuge in the ocean, where they were later rescued by the Coast Guard.
The County of Maui issued a tweet warning residents to avoid Lahaina Town. Shortly after, all roads leading in and out of the community were closed, barring access to everyone except emergency personnel.
According to county spokesperson Mahina Martin, the fire was widespread in Lahaina, including Front Street, a popular tourist area in the town. Distressing photos posted by the county displayed flames engulfing buildings and blazing across intersections. Lahaina’s historic district is even listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The National Weather Service attributed the intensity of the fires to Hurricane Dora, passing at a safe 500-mile distance from the island chain. However, the hurricane’s gusts, which exceeded 60 mph (97 kph), caused power outages, shook homes, and grounded firefighting helicopters. The weather service warned that the dangerous fire conditions, fueled by strong winds and low humidity, were expected to persist into Wednesday afternoon.
Amidst the chaos, the Coast Guard responded to distressed individuals who had sought refuge in the ocean to escape the fires and smoky conditions. Twelve people were successfully rescued off the coast of Lahaina, as the Coast Guard detailed on Twitter.
Acting Gov. Sylvia Luke declared an emergency proclamation on behalf of traveling Gov. Josh Green and mobilized the Hawaii National Guard for assistance.
As of now, no fatalities have been reported, and only one firefighter has been hospitalized after inhaling smoke. The exact number of structures affected and individuals evacuated remains unknown. Currently, four shelters are open, accommodating over 1,000 people.
County spokesperson Martin expressed the unprecedented nature of the situation, emphasizing how various districts have been impacted. The ongoing emergency during nighttime hours amplifies the fear, making it challenging to ascertain the full extent of the damage. Martin’s hope lies in the arrival of daybreak, as she states, “Right now, it is all-hands-on-deck, and we are anxious for daybreak.”
The wildfires were not limited to Maui, as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved a disaster declaration for the fire threatening approximately 200 homes in and around Kohala Ranch—a rural community on the Big Island. At the time of the request, the fire had already consumed more than 600 acres (243 hectares) and remained uncontained.
On Maui, firefighters battled multiple blazes concentrated in two areas: West Maui, a renowned tourist destination, and an inland, mountainous region. Due to the prevailing wind gusts, helicopters were unable to drop water on the fires or assess their size from the air. Meanwhile, firefighters encountered blocked roads caused by fallen trees and power lines while combating the inland fires.
Approximately 14,500 customers on Maui experienced power outages in the early hours of Wednesday.
Maui Mayor Richard Bissen reported that at least two homes had been destroyed in a fire covering approximately 1.7 square miles (4.5 square kilometers) in the Kula area. He further stated that around 80 individuals had been evacuated from 40 homes.
In the northern part of the Big Island, around 400 homes in four communities were evacuated under the guidance of Big Island Mayor Mitch Roth. One house’s roof had already caught fire at the time of reporting.
Hawaii’s fires differ from those seen in the western regions of the United States. They typically occur in expansive grasslands on the dry sides of the islands and are comparatively smaller in scale. Nonetheless, their onset can have devastating environmental consequences. For instance, fires remove vegetation, and subsequent heavy rainfall can wash loose soil into the ocean, suffocating coral reefs.
Hawaii has witnessed significant fires before, with a major incident occurring on the Big Island in 2021, resulting in home destruction and thousands of evacuations.
Meanwhile, Oahu, the island home to Honolulu, also experienced power outages, downed power lines, and traffic disruptions, as confirmed by Adam Weintraub, communication director for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency.
The story was contributed by Audrey McAvoy from the Associated Press.