A massive wildfire decimated the historic Hawaiian town of Lahaina on Maui this week, leaving behind scenes that are indistinguishable from a war zone.
The blazes erupted on Tuesday and continued to wreak havoc on the community on the western part of the island while flames raged in other areas. The fires have already engulfed thousands of acres and have killed at least 36 people.
“Flyovers today of Lahaina town by U.S. Civil Air Patrol and Maui Fire Department showed that more than 271 structures have been impacted,” Maui County officials said in a statement. “Widespread damage to the West Maui town, the harbor and surrounding areas are being documented.”
The U.S. Coast Guard used a 45-foot boat to rescue at least 14 people who were forced to run into the Pacific Ocean to escape the fires and thick plumes of smoke.
The U.S. Military has also been deployed to respond to the emergency, sending helicopters and other equipment to assist with rescue and firefighting operations.
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“The U.S. Army 25th Combat Aviation Brigade deployed two UH-60 Blackhawks and one CH-47 Chinook to Hawaii Island to conduct firefighting operations,” said the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. “Additionally, U.S. Navy Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 37 sent MH-60R Seahawk helicopters to assist the U.S. Coast Guard in search and rescue operations.”
Footage from earlier today showing the utter Devastation in the City of Lāhainā on the Hawaiian Island of Maui due to Wildfires spread quickly by Heavy Winds from Hurricane Dora to the South; the Governor of Hawaii, Josh Green has stated that at least 6 People were Killed just in… pic.twitter.com/7JioGRtoRs
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) August 10, 2023
Lahaina, Maui, has been absolutely devastated by this fire that ripped across the city, driven by Hurricane Dora's winds.
Heartbreaking for Hawaii.
— KanekoaTheGreat (@KanekoaTheGreat) August 9, 2023
#WATCH: New video shows the moment a wildfire tore though homes in Lahaina.
READ MORE: https://t.co/hGkr7eRdpv #HINews #HNN pic.twitter.com/U7ZdftV7S3
— Hawaii News Now (@HawaiiNewsNow) August 10, 2023
Thousands of tourists have either already left or are in the process of leaving the island amid continued evacuation efforts.
The New York Times highlighted a small glimpse of the historical value that the town brought to the island:
Its heritage museum, in a landmark courthouse, houses artifacts from before the rest of the world knew Hawaii existed. Its oldest building, the Baldwin Home, was occupied by the 19th-century physician who saved Maui from an epidemic of smallpox. Its central feature, a sprawling 150-year-old banyan tree, was planted to commemorate the arrival of Christian missionaries in 1873.
Heartbreaking to believe the Lahaina Banyan Tree is no longer standing. I took this video under it’s leaves while visiting my father in law there two summers ago. Please hold the people of Maui in your hearts ❤️ pic.twitter.com/hXxTDNBP2X
— Amalia (@zombalia) August 9, 2023
"The Waiola Church hall and nearby Lahaina Hongwanji Mission temple are fully engulfed in flames on Tuesday afternoon"https://t.co/m14QZJr9xM pic.twitter.com/nL8RzwODok
— Steve Lookner (@lookner) August 9, 2023