Lahaina fire aerials (August 11, 2023) from Hawaii DLNR on Vimeo.
UPDATE Aug 12, 2023: Lahaina Search only 3% Done--death toll stands at 89
Lahaina fires update, 9 p.m.
News Release from Maui County Office of the Mayor, August 11, 2023
Firefighters continue working to extinguish flare-ups and contain fires in Lahaina, Pulehu/Kihei and Upcountry Maui.
The number of fatalities is at 80.
A Ka’anapali fire reported above Puukolii at 6:10 p.m. Friday was reported to be 100 percent contained before 8:30 p.m. The fire is in the area where a county fueling station was positioned Friday to distribute an estimated 3,000 gallons of gas and 500 gallons of diesel for an estimated 400 vehicles that were lined up before the operation began. No fuel will be distributed Saturday.
Police are restricting access into West Maui through both Ma’alaea and Waihe’e. Honoapiilani Highway is open for vehicles leaving Lahaina. The burned historic Lahaina town area remains barricaded, with people warned to stay out of the area due to hazards including toxic particles from smoldering areas. Wearing a mask and gloves is advised.
Volunteers are distributing food, water and other supplies at Napili Plaza.
Food, water, toiletries, canned goods, diapers, baby formula, clothing and pet food will be distributed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Lahaina Gateway Center.
Donations of non-perishable food, bottled water and hygiene items will be accepted from 8 a.m. to 6 pm. Saturday at the War Memorial Complex field in Wailuku. No clothing is being accepted.
A Family Assistance Center for family members who are looking for information about loved ones who are unaccounted for will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Kahului Community Center.
The county Department of Transportation is coordinating buses to transport people staying at emergency shelters to the county Department of Motor Vehicles and Licensing, which will be open for special hours from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday so shelter occupants can have their driver’s licenses and state identification cards reissued. Fees will be waived. County are volunteering to work to open the department.
On Friday, a total of 1,418 people were at emergency evacuation shelters at War Memorial Gymnasium, Hannibal Tavares Community Center, Maui High School, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Maui Lani, Kings Cathedral Church and Grace Bible Church.
Additional cellphone service was becoming available in West Maui. Cellphone users are reminded to text not talk so everyone can share the limited resources.
For organizations and individuals wishing to offer services or donations to aid in the county rescue and relief efforts, an online tool is available. Information can be provided at https://tinyurl.com/mauireliefsurvey to be used to help organize and deploy resources.
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67 fatalities confirmed amid active Lahaina fire
News Release from Maui County Mayor, Aug 11, 2023
As firefighting efforts continue, 12 additional fatalities have been confirmed as of 1 p.m. today amid the active Lahaina fire. This brings the death toll to 67 people.
Thirty-six fatalities were confirmed Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023. Another 19 were confirmed Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023.
The Lahaina fire is not yet contained.
No other details are available at this time.
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Access to West Maui resumes at 12 noon today
News Release from Maui County Mayor, Aug 11, 2023
Residents of West Maui with identification showing proof of residency and visitors with proof of hotel reservations will have access to Lahaina via Maʻalaea beginning today, Friday, August 11 at noon with measures in place designed to secure the heavily impacted area of historic Lahaina town. These measures include no unauthorized public access beyond barricaded areas and a curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily in historic Lahaina town and affected areas. The curfew is intended to protect residences and property. Access to Lahaina at Maalaea will be closed at 10 p.m. and reopened at 6 a.m. daily. West Maui remains without power and water, and search crews continue efforts in the Lahaina town area for victims of the brush fire. Limited access into Lahaina, with no access into the restricted zone of historic Lahaina town, will be in effect until hazardous conditions improve.
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Family Assistance Center open today for those seeking information about loved ones
News Release from Maui County Mayor, Aug 10, 2023
Lahaina, Pulehu and Upcountry Maui Fires Combined Update No. 14, 11:30 a.m.: A Family Assistance Center is open at Kahului Community Center for family members who are looking for information about loved ones who are unaccounted for and may be affected by the wildfires on Maui.
The center at 275 Uhu St. is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and Friday. Hours after Friday have not been set.
The Maui Emergency Management Agency will pass out forms to be filled out to help in the process of locating unaccounted for family members.
People trying to locate loved ones who may be impacted by the fires also can call the American Red Cross hotline at 1-800-733-2767.
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Lahaina Fire, August 10, 2023 from Hawaii DLNR on Vimeo.
VIDEO: Lahaina ‘hallowed ground’ while search for dead continues
SA: … Asked about specifics on which parts of Lahaina were spared, Maui Mayor Richard Bissen, Jr. said “all of it” was gone….
Pressed by reporters for exact streets, along with the current number of fatalities, Pelletier later returned to the podium in the Maui County building and insisted that the current number remains at 53. (UPDATE: 55 as of late Thursday.)
“We’re going to take our time and do it right,” he said. “When the mayor said it’s gone, it’s all gone. It’s gone.”
Pelletier later acknowledged that the number of fatalities is likely to increase….
Green also said the estimate of buildings destroyed on Maui is “upwards of 1,700,” sharply higher than the initial estimate Wednesday of 271. He said that about 11,000 people in West Maui remain without power.
He described what he was seeing in Lahaina as “total devastation,” estimating that about 80% of the town was destroyed, with hundreds of families displaced. He added that the damage to property will be in the “billions of dollars.” ….
read … VIDEO: Lahaina ‘hallowed ground’ while search for dead continues
MN: The confirmed death toll in the Lahaina fires grew to 55 on Thursday, authorities said they expect more casualties…. there could be as many as 1,000 missing people, but he cautioned that this doesn’t mean they have died.
MN: At least 55 people died on Maui. Residents had little warning before wildfires overtook a town
MN: MAUI FIRES, AUG. 11: Death toll raised to 55 as crews put out flare-ups | News, Sports, Jobs - Maui News
CN: Historic Maui town in ruins after wildfires
KITV: Hundreds of people believed to be missing in Lahaina as frantic families search for their loved ones
Maui Mayor: Family Assistance Center open today for those seeking information about loved ones
Maui Mayor: News Releases
HECO: Our Response to the Windstorm | Hawaiian Electric
NYT: Map of Burned Buildings --1,700 estimated gone
NYT: Map of fire area