Lahaina, a cherished historic town on the enchanting island of Maui, Hawaii, finds itself ravaged by an inferno of unprecedented proportions, its destruction driven by the fierce winds accompanying Hurricane Dora, a formidable Category 4 storm that recently skirted the state. Despite the absence of Hawaii Governor Josh Green, who was away on vacation, plans have abruptly shifted, and he is set to return tonight, compelled to address the unfolding crisis.
With hurricane-force winds exacerbating the situation, a wildfire of exceptional ferocity has swept through the community, leaving little in its wake. Governor Green remarked, “The wind-fueled fires have devastated many of our communities and people will be looking to our office for leadership while we address the ongoing emergency and do what we can as a state to rebuild lives.” The magnitude of the catastrophe has been immense; large tracts of Lāhainā lie in ruins, and countless local families have been uprooted from their homes.
First responders have valiantly battled the flames, preventing numerous casualties, though regrettably, some loss of life is anticipated. The state’s emergency response machinery, complemented by the Hawai‘i National Guard, has sprung into action, receiving essential support from FEMA. Leading the charge is Adjutant General Ken Hara, a familiar figure from Hawaii’s effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the face of the disaster, the U.S. Coast Guard emerged as a beacon of hope, conducting daring rescues of residents who had leaped into the ocean as a last-ditch effort to escape the encroaching inferno. The entirety of Hawaii’s islands now languishes under a crimson flag of warning due to the tandem menace of robust winds and parched air, a deadly combination that renders conditions optimal for wildfires to flourish, according to the National Weather Service. The agency has emphasized the rapid propagation of any ignited fires under these conditions and strongly discouraged outdoor burning.
Wind-whipped wildfires raced through parts of Hawaii Wednesday, destroying homes and businesses in the historic town of Lahaina on the island of Maui https://t.co/mIxCVaRan4 pic.twitter.com/d8NNLVCT6c
— Bloomberg (@business) August 9, 2023
WATCH: Footage shows catastrophic scenes from Lahaina. 911 service, cell service, and some landlines are down in parts of Maui as ‘unprecedented’ wildfires rage in Hawaii pic.twitter.com/hU3wh9l9nV
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) August 9, 2023
😳 This is harrowing. The heat they feel within the car is likely very intense! Fires in Hawaii on Maui have reportedly burned down a large swath of Lahaina village and Front Street. pic.twitter.com/0yPwXiZcKP
— Justin Hart (@justin_hart) August 9, 2023
