dangerous Wildfires are spreading rapidly on the island of Maui Due to very dry conditions caused by drought and strong winds across Hawaii.
At least 80 people have died from wildfires in Maui The most dangerous natural disaster In Hawaii since it became a state.
Much of the historic city of Lahaina has been “decimated,” according to officials. Officials said a state of emergency has been declared for the entire island, while all non-essential travel to the popular holiday destination has been discouraged. The Big Island of Hawaii has also been affected by wildfires.
The latest developments
August 12, 10:13 a.m
2,207 buildings damaged or destroyed in Lahaina fire and 2,170 acres burned: officials
According to the Pacific Disaster Center, an estimated 2,719 buildings were affected by the Lahaina fire; 2,207 buildings were damaged or destroyed; 2,170 acres burned.
Of the buildings exposed to fire, 86% are classified as residential.
-ABC News Flor Tolentino
Aug 12, 4:37 a.m
Death toll rises to 80 in wildfires in Maui
Officials say at least 80 people have died in Maui as wildfires continue to rage an update.
Firefighters are working to contain three fires in Lahaina, Upcountry Maui and near Polihu and Kihei, an official said at around 9 p.m. local time. A fire reported near Kaanapali is 100% contained.
County officials said vehicular traffic restrictions were in place throughout western Maui, but the roadway out of Lahaina was open.
The update stated that “the area of the historic town of Lahaina burned remains fortified, with people being warned to stay out of the area due to hazards including toxic particulate matter from the burning areas.” It is advised to wear a mask and gloves.
County officials said about 1,400 people were in emergency evacuation shelters.
August 12, 3:48 a.m
A fire near Kaanapali is 80% under control, and evacuations have been halted
The Maui Police Department said in an update that a fire near the Kaanapali area of Maui is now 80% controlled and evacuations have been halted.
-ABC News Flor Tolentino
Aug. 12, 2:44 a.m
An evacuation is underway in Kaanapali
Law enforcement officials said residents and tourists in Kaanapali were evacuated Friday evening as fires continued to rage in western Maui.
“As of this posting, there is a fire in western Maui, and residents in Kaanapali are currently being evacuated,” the Maui Police Department said. a permit Posted on social media.
Another area popular with tourists, Kaanapali lies on the coast a few miles north of Lahaina.
– ABC News’ Amanda Morris
August 11, 11:40 p.m
Many cultural monuments cherished by the islanders were damaged
One area particularly devastated by wildfires is Historic Lahaina, which has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1962.
It was the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1820 to 1845 before Honolulu became the capital and before the kingdom was overthrown and Hawaii was annexed by the United States, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority.
This includes the historic Waiola Church, Maui’s first Christian church founded in 1823, which can be seen in the fire-swept photos.
Many Hawaiian kings are buried here, including “Queen Keopulani, the highest monarch by virtue of her dynasties in all of Hawaii”, the last King of Kauai King Kaumalei, High Chief Olumahehi Hubili and more.
Pictures showed that an over 60-foot-tall, 150-year-old Indian banyan tree that became a beloved landmark in the city of Lahaina was also damaged in the fire.
The historic tree covers a quarter of a mile and covers nearly two-thirds of an acre of land.
Historic homes, museums and other cultural centers were on fire. learn more here.
– ABC News Chiara Alfonseca
Aug. 11, 7:28 p.m
The death toll is now 67, marking the deadliest natural disaster since the creation of the state of Hawaii
The death toll from the Maui fires has risen to 67, according to officials He said.
An additional 12 deaths had been confirmed as of 1pm local time on Friday, officials said, bringing the death toll to 67.
This officially makes this the highest death toll from a natural disaster since the establishment of the state of Hawaii.
Previously, the state’s deadliest natural disaster occurred in 1960, when a tsunami killed 61 people.
Officials said the Lahaina fire is not yet contained.
Aug. 11, 6:46 p.m
The Maui fires have been declared a public health emergency
The US Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency in Hawaii due to the wildfires.
The announcement “gives health care providers and suppliers to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) greater flexibility in meeting the emergency health needs of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries,” the agency said.
“We will do everything we can to assist Hawaii officials in responding to the health impacts of the wildfires,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement. The federal government, and we stand ready to provide more public health and medical support.”
Aug. 11, 6:45 p.m
A Maui doctor prescribes treatment for patients with fire injuries
Dr. Art Chasen, medical director of trauma at Maui Memorial Medical Center, described to ABC News what it was like treating patients injured by devastating wildfires.
He said Tuesday night was the first night he had a mass casualty accident in the 12 years since he worked at the hospital. The crew saw about 40 patients overnight, eight with serious, life-threatening burns, and the rest with minor burns, smoke inhalation injuries, and other fire-related injuries.
Chasen described one patient, a firefighter, who was seriously injured while trying to rescue people from a burning building.
“It just kept coming back until we ran out of oxygen,” Chasen said. “He ended up somehow taking off his mask and collapsing in the fire. Fellow firefighters came in and rescued him. He sustained severe burns to both legs at the scene.”
“He coded him, his heart stopped so hard and so he got three to five minutes of CPR…they put him back in and he was in our ICU all night.”
The firefighter was taken to Queens Medical Center on Oahu. In all, nine patients have been transferred to Queens & Straub Medical Center, also on Oahu.
Maui Memorial had seen about 60 patients as of Friday morning. Chasen expects a second wave of infected patients now that roads have reopened, but insisted the hospital is not overwhelmed or struggling to accommodate patients.
“We were not confused. We never refused anyone,” he said. “We have beds available. We have space available for the ICU. We’ve seen regular trauma patients all the time, like motorcycle accidents and things like that. So, our hospital has stepped up to meet the demand.”
– ABC News’ Mary Kikatos
Aug. 11, 5:56 p.m
How wildfires affect people’s physical and mental health
The effects of the deadly wildfires in Maui go beyond evacuations and damaged buildings. Experts say the fires also affect the physical health of residents and tourists and can have implications for their mental health.
Wildfire smoke is a mixture of gases, pollutants and particles that people can inhale, penetrate the lungs and even enter the bloodstream.
Research has also shown that wildfires and the subsequent smoke can lead to increased rates of anxiety and depression and become worse among people who already suffer from these conditions.
Read more about the potential health effects here.
– ABC News’ Mary Kikatos
Aug. 11, 5:28 p.m
Jeff Bezos and his fiancee pledged $100 million to Maui
Jeff Bezos and his fiancee, Lauren Sanchez, have announced their donation of $100 million to Maui, Sanchez announced on Instagram.
“Jeff and I are saddened by what is happening in Maui,” Sanchez said in the post, which Bezos also shared on his Instagram account. “We are thinking of all the families who have lost so much and the community that has been devastated.”
She said they are creating a Maui Fund and dedicating $100 million “to help Maui get back on its feet now and over the coming years as continued needs reveal themselves.”
