Maui’s emergency chief resigns following backlash over wildfire response as search continues: latest update

The head of the Maui Emergency Management Agency resigned on Thursday after officials came under increased scrutiny over the response to the devastating wildfires.

Herman Andaya submitted his resignation just one day after he defended his decision of not using outdoor alert sirens before the fires overwhelmed the historic community of Lahaina and killed at least 111 people.

Mr Andaya cited unspecified health reasons, with no further details provided in his letter.

“Given the gravity of the crisis we are facing, my team and I will be placing someone in this key position as quickly as possible,” Maui mayor Richard Bissen said in the statement.

Meanwhile, the search to find and identify victims remains painstakingly slow. Only 10 of the 111 victims so far killed in the fires have been identified.

Residents are also reporting that investors and realtors are trying to capitalise on the wildfires to purchase land from locals. “We’re not going to allow it,” Hawaii governor Josh Green said.

Mr Green said he expects re-building the burned area of Maui to cost $5 billion or more.

Key points

• Maui’s emergency services chief Herman Andaya quits following backlash over sirens

• Maui wildfires death toll reaches 111

• What caused the fires in Maui?

• Biden to visit Maui on Monday after backlash over response

• Investigation under way as new video suggests possible cause of fire

How did the Hawaii wildfires start?

07:30 , Ariana Baio

Hawaii delayed water that could have been used in wildfires, report says

05:00 , Ariana Baio

A Hawaii agency reportedly delayed a water management company’s request to make water available to fight the wildfires in Maui.

In a letter obtained by CNN, a member of the West Maui Land Company complained in a letter that the deputy director of the Hawaii Commission on Water Resource Management that the agency did not approve the company’s request to divert stream water to nearby reservoirs quickly.

The agency allegedly told West Maui Land Company that they had to inquire about impacts before allowing it while wildfires blazed.

It is unclear if the request’s approval would have significantly affected firefighters’ efforts in Lahaina.

Biden called out for ‘special’ Maui PR drive after backlash over slow response

03:00 , Ariana Baio

President Joe Biden delivered a “special” message to the people of Maui on Thursday morning in a pre-recorded video aired on Good Morning America – but for some, the president’s effort was too little too late.

Biden called out for ‘special’ Maui PR drive after backlash over slow response

In Hawaii, concerns over 'climate gentrification' rise after devastating Maui fires

01:00 , Ariana Baio

More than 3,000 buildings in Lahaina were damaged by fire, smoke or both. Insured property losses alone already total some $3.2 billion, according to Karen Clark & Company, a prominent disaster and risk modeling firm.

With a housing crisis that has priced out many Native Hawaiians as well as families that have been there for decades, concerns are rising that the state could become the latest example of “climate gentrification,” when it becomes harder for local people to afford housing in safer areas after a climate-amped disaster.

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said Wednesday his state attorney general will draft a moratorium on the sale of damaged properties in Lahaina, to protect local landowners from being “victimized” by opportunistic buyers as Maui rebuilds.

Thompson said she supports that “wholeheartedly.” But she acknowledged some people won’t be able to afford to rebuild and will want to sell their land.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

White House using ‘whole of government’ approach to Maui wildfire assistance

Saturday 19 August 2023 00:00 , Ariana Baio

Hawaiian officials delayed request to divert water to firefighters battling Maui wildfire, report claims

Friday 18 August 2023 23:29 , Graig Graziosi

New documents allege that state authorities in Hawaii delayed a water management company’s request to divert water to Maui to help fight wildfires that ripped through the island earlier this month.

The allegations were reportedly detailed in a letter obtained by CNN.

Glenn Tremble of the West Maui Land Company — which manages the state’s water supply companies — expressed his frustration in a letter to the Hawaii Commission on Water Resource Management, reportedly claiming the agency failed to approve his company’s request to move water to reservoirs to help firefighting capabilities during the wildfire.

He was told that the company had to consider the impact such a diversion would take on downstream users, according to the report.

READ MORE:

Report claims Hawaiian officials delayed request to divert water to battle wildfire

Maui homeowner reveals property upgrades that left her house the only one spared by wildfires

Friday 18 August 2023 23:00 , Ariana Baio

The once-colourful homes along the coast of historic Maui town of Lahaina are now mostly obliterated, leaving a series of ruins covered in a layer of grey soot and ash from the devastating wildfires that ravaged the area.

Except for one.

Aerial photos of destroyed properties show a red-roofed home with a pristine white facade and red roof still standing, seemingly untouched by the blazes.

A photo of the scene immediately went viral, with some wondering if it could be Photoshopped or if it was part of a larger conspiracy, like many images that have circulated online in the wake of the disaster.

The simple truth, though, is that the homeowners, Dora Atwater Millikin and her husband, Dudley, made relatively minor adjustments that helped save their property.

Ariana Baio reports:

Maui homeowner reveals property upgrades that left her house spared in wildfires

Watch: Emotional Maui resident asks why President Joe Biden hasn't visited after wildfires

Friday 18 August 2023 22:00 , Ariana Baio

Fox News criticised for using disgraced ex-FEMA head to attack Biden’s response to Hawaii wildfires

Friday 18 August 2023 21:30 , Ariana Baio

The former FEMA administrator who was critcised for slow rescue efforts amid the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 has been accused of hypocrisy after he called President Joe Biden’s response to the Maui wildfires an “abject failure”.

Despite facing his own barrage of criticism when he headed FEMA, Michael D Brown lambasted the president’s response to the fatal fires on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle. The fires have claimed the lives of at least 111 people, while thousands more have been displaced.

“If he wants to go to Honolulu and meet with the governor, that’s fine. But I can tell you from personal experience that if he goes to Maui, it will interrupt operations because the United States Secret Service will put an air cap over Maui,” Mr Brown said. “They won’t let any helicopters fly. It will be a complete disaster,” he added.

Talking to Mr Brown, host Laura Ingraham said she wasn’t sure “anyone was expecting” Mr Biden to “descend on the ruins” anyway.

“Mr Biden is supposed to be Mr Empathy,” Ingraham continued. “And you don’t see it when you are at the beach. This is a horrific event for the United States. If Donald Trump was at the beach when something like this happened under his watch — I mean, they always criticise him for being on the golf course, I know — but this really took the cake.”

The former FEMA administrator concurred, accusing the president of not knowing how to use “the bully pulpit to talk about everything that’s going on and assuring the people in Maui — and frankly all Americans — that the federal government is doing every single thing that they should be doing.”

ICYMI: Maui wildfire official quits after defending decision not to sound sirens warning of blaze

Friday 18 August 2023 21:00 , Ariana Baio

Maui’s top emergencies official has abruptly resigned as local authorities came under increasing scrutiny over their response to the devastating wildfires that have killed at least 111 people on the Hawaiian island so far.

Herman Andaya, the chief of the Maui Emergency Management Agency, sent his letter of resignation to mayor Richard Bissen on Thursday and it was accepted immediately, the county of Maui confirmed in a statement.

Mr Andaya cited unspecified health reasons for his decision, with no further details provided in the letter.

Stuti Mishra reports:

Maui wildfire official quits after defending decision not to sound sirens

FBI assisting in collecting DNA to identify wildfire victims

Friday 18 August 2023 20:30 , Ariana Baio

Hawaii homeowner made basic property upgrades that saved house from fire

Friday 18 August 2023 20:00 , Ariana Baio

Dora Atwater Millikin and her husband, made minor adjustments that contributed to saving their property.

Part of that included replacing the asphalt roof with a heavy-gauge metal roof and cutting down the foliage surrounding the home, Ms Atwater Millikin told The Los Angeles Times.

Ms Atwater Millikin said she and her husband recently renovated the house and they had no intention of making adjustments that would protect it from fire.

“It’s a 100 per cent wood house so it’s not like we fireproofed it or anything,” she said.

Instead, they chose to restore the 100-year-old home to some of its original features, like changing the roof to either a wooden shake or a thinner tin material. They also placed stones around the home that line up to the drip line of the roof.

She told the Los Angeles Times, they removed foliage around the house because they wanted to take preventative action against termites spreading to the house’s wood frame.

“We love old buildings, so we just wanted to honor the building,” Ms Atwater Millikin said. “And we didn’t change the building in any way — we just restored it.

The changes, while minor, ended up being critical to keeping the home from catching ablaze.

“When this was all happening, there were pieces of wood — six, 12 inches long — that were on fire and just almost floating through the air with the wind and everything,” Ms Atwater Millikin said.

Watch: Emotional Maui resident asks why President Joe Biden hasn’t visited after wildfires

Friday 18 August 2023 19:30 , Ariana Baio

County of Maui provides temporary ID cards to those who lost theirs in wildfires

Friday 18 August 2023 19:00 , Ariana Baio

Maui teachers fear children will be among dead as 7-year-old found in burned car

Friday 18 August 2023 18:40 , Ariana Baio

As officials in Hawaii work to determine the identities of the over 100 people who died in the Maui wildfires, members of the community fear that children will make up a large part of that death toll.

When the fast-moving wildfires broke out on 8 August, many children were home from school because dangerous winds from a hurricane off the coast of Hawaii forced school closures.

But with no warning that fires near Lahaina were about to engulf the town, there was no time for people to conduct orderly evacuations to keep track of children and ensure they got to safety first.

Ariana Baio reports:

Maui teachers fear children will be among dead as 7-year-old found in burned car

Identifying victims of the Maui wildfire will be a challenging task

Friday 18 August 2023 18:20 , Ariana Baio

Dozens of search crews and cadaver dogs went through devastated areas of Lahaina this week.

The federal government said it dispatched coroners, pathologists, technicians, X-ray units and other equipment to identify victims and process remains.

US Department of Health and Human Services official Jonathan Greene said the work stood to be “ very, very difficult ” and called for patience.

Rapid DNA-testing machines that were used after a 2018 blaze that largely destroyed Paradise, California, also are being put to work in Maui. The instruments, roughly the size of a large computer printer or microwave oven, were developed a decade or so ago and designed for use in the field

In some situations, dental work, prosthetics, surgical implants, fingerprints, tattoos or other body markings can reveal a person’s identity. But the heat and power of a wildfire can destroy these clues, and dental and medical records sometimes are unavailable or difficult to track down.

An intense fire also can leave remains too damaged for DNA extraction, though there have been scientific strides. New York City, notably, has retested fragmentary remains of 9/11 victims as techniques evolved over the years and created new prospects for reading genetic code diminished by fire, sunlight, bacteria and more.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

Family friends of Maui victim says he died helping others

Friday 18 August 2023 18:00 , Ariana Baio

Joseph Schilling was last seen evacuating his home in Lahaina on 8 August. His close friends confirmed his death on social media and a GoFundMe page.

Akiva Bluh, a family friend of Schilling, who she referred to as “Uncle Joe”, described him as “caring, outgoing, funny, easygoing, joyous, and LOVING.”

Bluh said Schilling was informally adopted into their family where he acted “out of love and kindness” toward Bluh and their brothers, became best friends with Bluh’s father and quickly became friends with their mother.

“Joe passed while aiding in evacuating five elderly people in his housing complex. Joe passed as a HERO. His character showed until his very last moments. To everybody who had the pleasure of meeting my Uncle Joe, count your lucky stars; rarely do you get to meet such a genuine soul,” Bluh wrote.

The County of Maui has not confirmed Schilling’s death as of Friday afternoon.

Maui teachers fear children will be among dead as 7-year-old found in burned car

Friday 18 August 2023 17:40 , Ariana Baio

As officials in Hawaii work to determine the identities of the over 100 people who died in the Maui wildfires, members of the community fear that children will make up a large part of that death toll.

When the fast-moving wildfires broke out on 8 August, many children were home from school because dangerous winds from a hurricane off the coast of Hawaii forced school closures.

But with no warning that fires near Lahaina were about to engulf the town, there was no time for people to conduct orderly evacuations to keep track of children and ensure they got to safety first.

Maui teachers fear children will be among dead as 7-year-old found in burned car

Hawaii teachers fear children will be among dead

Friday 18 August 2023 17:20 , Ariana Baio

As officials in Hawaii work to determine the identities of the over 100 people who died in the Maui wildfires, members of the community fear that children will make up a large part of that number.

When the fast-moving wildfires broke out on 8 August, many children were home from school because dangerous winds from a hurricane off the coast of Hawaii forced school closures.

Jessica Sill, an elementary school teacher at Lahaina King Kamehameha III, told The Wall Street Journal that she fears some children were home alone the day of the fires.

“Our parents work one, two, three jobs just to get by and they can’t afford to take a day off,” Ms Sill said. “Without school, there was nowhere for [children] to go that day.”

Kelly Gallego, an eighth-grade teacher at Lahaina Intermediate School said her heart breaks thinking about missing families.

“When it comes to thinking about some of those families not being there…I don’t have words to express how much my heart is breaking now,” Ms Gallego told WSJ.

Another elementary school teacher, Justin Hughey who works in special education, said he too is thinking about the aftermath of his students’ mental health.

“We don’t even know if our kids are still there, if the kids are still alive,” Mr Hughey told Civil Beat. “And then you gotta deal with all the trauma that the kids have gone through.”

71-year-old among the victims

Friday 18 August 2023 17:00 , Ariana Baio

The County of Maui announced on Thursday evening that among the victims is 71-year-old Donna Gomes of Lahaina.

Gomes, a mother and grandmother, died in the wildfires on 8 August.

Gomes’ grandchild created a GoFundMe to collect donations in order to support their family after they lost everything in the Maui wildfires.

“Not only have we lost our homes but our family is also grieving the loss of our family backbone,” Tehani Kuhaulua wrote.

More than half of burned area searched

Friday 18 August 2023 16:40 , Ariana Baio

Approximately 58 per cent of the burned area in Lahaina, Maui has been searched, officials in the County of Maui said on Thursday evening.

So far, 111 people have been found but only 10 have been identified.

Cadaver dogs are expected to continue the search for victims this week.

Hawaii governor Josh Green said he expected the death to rise as the search continues.

Video shows volunteers helping in wildfire relief

Friday 18 August 2023 16:20 , Ariana Baio

LA sports teams donate to Maui wildfires

Friday 18 August 2023 16:00 , Ariana Baio

Twelve professional sports teams from Los Angeles, California are teaming up to donate $450,000 to help those affected by the wildfires in Maui.

The Los Angeles Lakers, Clippers, Dodgers, Angels, Rams, Chargers, Sparks, Galaxy, LAFC, Kings, Anaheim Ducks and Angel City Football Club are apart of the initiative to provide support to the American Red Cross relief efforts.

“Southern California has long had a connection with the state of Hawaii with a massive Hawaiian community being present and many teams contributing to that connection throughout the years,” a press release from the LA teams reads.

“Notably, the Lakers held training camp in Hawaii for more than 25 years and have played numerous preseason games in Honolulu. In fact, the Showtime reunion in 2022 took place in Maui.”

Watch: Governor Josh Green provides update on 17 August

Friday 18 August 2023 15:40 , Ariana Baio

Department of Defense supporting FEMA in six missions

Friday 18 August 2023 15:20 , Ariana Baio

The Department of Defense (DoD) is assisting Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) personnel in Maui through six missions, they said in a press release.

The missions include operating a Defense Coordinating Element office, including liaison officers, assisting in air and sea transportation for moving supplies, cargo and equipment, using the Schofield Barracks to support life and emergency responders, strategising transportation of personnel and cargo, standing by for aerial fire suppression and suing the US Army Reserve Center as a base for FEMA.

Lahaina fire is 90 per cent contained

Friday 18 August 2023 15:00 , Ariana Baio

The first in Lahaina, Maui that began on 8 August is approximately 90 per cent contained, the County of Maui said in a Facebook post.

“There are no active threats at this time,” County of Maui wrote. “[Maui Fire Department] and United States Army Reserve were on site today.”

So far, the fire has burned an estimated 2,169 acres.

Once a fire is 100 per cent contained it means firefighters have the perimeter of the fire surrounded. When the fire burns out completely and there is nothing left burning it is finally declared extinguished.

Maui rebuilding efforts will likely cost more than a typical disaster relief

Friday 18 August 2023 14:40 , Ariana Baio

Already, doing business in Hawaii is 30 per cent more expensive than the cost of doing business in the rest of the United States. So now with many homes and businesses needing to be rebuilt, officials are expecting it to be very pricy.

One catastrophe modeling firm called Verisk told CNN that construction costs on Hawaii can expect to be 44 per cent more than typical.

“Based on similar historical events, this is likely conservative, as building delays and supply and demand cause additional pressures on reconstruction costs,” Verisk said.

Part of this reason is the cost of importing expensive materials like lumber to the island and paying for labour.

GoFundMe provides links to verified memorial and recovery funds

Friday 18 August 2023 14:10 , Ariana Baio

GoFundMe has created a section of its website dedicated to verified funds for those who died in the Maui wildfires and those who are in need of assistance.

The page includes a section for memorials that serve as fundraisers for the families of victims who perished in the wildfires.

Below that is a section for general individuals, families and businesses affected by the wildfires.

All of the funds posted to the page have been verified by GoFundMe’s Trust and Safety team.

Hawaii has suffered $5.6bn losses in 'harrowing' wildfires, governor Josh Green says

Friday 18 August 2023 13:40 , Ariana Baio

ICYMI: Why officials did not sound outdoor alarms

Friday 18 August 2023 13:00 , Ariana Baio

On Hawaii’s Emergency Management Agency website, it indicates that their outdoor siren system can be used for hurricanes, dam breaches, flooding, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, terrorist threats, hazardous material incidents and more.

Despite this, both Governor Josh Green and Maui County Emergency Management Agency administrator Herman Andaya say the siren would not have been useful if it was sounded before the fires.

Both Mr Green and Mr Andaya said the siren is advertised as being used almost exclusively for tsunamis – especially for beachside neighbourhoods and towns.

Mr Green said when he first moved to Hawaii he was always told, “If you hear a siren it’s a tsunami you go to high ground.”

That single-minded approach to the sirens has proven dangerous after the Maui wildfires. Mr Green said going forward they are going to find new ways to keep the public informed about incoming disasters.

“We’re performing a comprehensive review to find out what the safest and most effective, science-based way is to protect people,” Mr Green told reporters.

Over in Canada: Wildfire forces city of Yellowknife to evacuate

Friday 18 August 2023 12:40 , Rachel Sharp

How did the Hawaii wildfires start?

Friday 18 August 2023 12:20 , Ariana Baio

August is part of Hawaii’s typical dry season when parts of the island experience abnormal to severe droughts.

Since the beginning of August, most of Maui has been under an “abnormally dry” level of drought, according to the US Drought Monitor.

But beginning on Tuesday, 8 August, a portion of Maui escalated to a “severe drought” level making the area more susceptible to wildfires.

Though the islands are no stranger to some wildfires, the number of fires has increased exponentially over the past century due to human activity and an increase in invasive, flammable grasses, according to the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization (HWMO).

“Nonnative grasslands and shrublands now cover nearly one-quarter of Hawaii’s total land area and, together with a warming, drying climate and year-round fire season, greatly increase the incidence of larger fires,” the HWMO wrote in a factsheet.

The invasive grasses, which grew tall during the wet season, quickly dried out during the dry season – making them extremely flammable.

The dry vegetation combined with the drought conditions made for the perfect environment for wildfires.

But what may have caused the explosion in wildfire conditions is the strong winds brought on by Hurricane Dora, a Category 5 hurricane located several hundred miles off the coast of Hawaii.

Maui wildfire victim died while trying to shield friend’s golden retriever

Friday 18 August 2023 12:00 , Ariana Baio

As wildfires ravaged the Maui community of Lahaina, one of the victims died protecting his friend’s golden retriever.

In what officials have dubbed the deadliest US blaze in a century, 68-year-old Franklin Trejos had attempted to shield Sam, the golden retriever, from the deadly flames. The dog belonged to retired fire captain Geoff Bogar and his wife Shannon Weber-Bogar, Trejos’ friends of nearly 35 years.

Mr Bogar told the Associated Press that he and Trejos had decided to stay behind in an effort to save Mr Bogar’s house as the fires grew on 7 August. Although Mr Bogar says that they both eventually decided to flee the following afternoon, only the retired captain made it back.

Authorities discovered Trejos’ bones in the backseat of his car lying on top of the remains of Mr Bogar’s three-year-old golden retriever. He reportedly died trying to protect the young dog.

Olivia Hebert reports:

Maui wildfire victim died while trying to shield friend’s golden retriever

How are victims’ remains identified?

Friday 18 August 2023 11:40 , Rachel Sharp

In some situations, dental work, prosthetics, surgical implants, fingerprints, tattoos or other body markings can reveal a person’s identity. But the heat and power of a wildfire can destroy these clues, and dental and medical records sometimes are unavailable or difficult to track down.

An intense fire also can leave remains too damaged for DNA extraction, though there have been scientific strides. New York City, notably, has retested fragmentary remains of 9/11 victims as techniques evolved over the years and created new prospects for reading genetic code diminished by fire, sunlight, bacteria and more.

“What you typically expect in a wildfire is that you’re going to have a range, and there are going to be some that are quite straightforward and some that are more challenging,” Selden said.

Ultimately, the vast majority of the Paradise fire victims were identifiable via DNA, he said.

Getting and analyzing a victim’s genetic material isn’t the only hurdle. Authorities need something for comparison — a sample from the person when alive or, often, from their relations.

“There is something people can do: Their close relatives should donate their cheek swabs,” Selden said. Maui officials have been urging likewise.

The American Red Cross is working with authorities to collect samples from family members and is helping them navigate the bureaucracy of making identifications, Red Cross official Brad Kieserman said.

HOW LONG MIGHT THIS TAKE?

It took months to make positive identifications of some of the 85 Paradise fire victims and notify their relatives. After wildfires killed 24 people in northern California’s Sonoma County the year before, most were identified within the first month, but the sheriff’s office has said it took two months to finish the process.

The hijacked-plane terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, killed nearly 3,000 people at New York’s World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field. The collapse of the trade center’s burning twin towers left a vast number of tiny human remains amid ashes and debris. About 1,100 victims have yet to have any remains identified.

AP

Why efforts to identify victims is such a challenge:

Friday 18 August 2023 11:20 , Rachel Sharp

The challenge is formidable: identifying the remains of more than 100 victims as agonized loved ones yearn for information about those missing in Maui after the United States’ deadliest wildfire in more than a century.

It is a painstaking process, and one that other communities have endured following disasters and mass casualties. The advent of DNA technology and subsequent advances have provided powerful tools. But finding remains, zeroing in on genetic material or other clues and amassing the information needed to get a match still takes time — if certainty comes at all.

As Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said this week when asked about the death toll: “You want it fast ... We’re going to do it right.”

Here’s a look at how the work of identification unfolds.

WHAT IS KNOWN SO FAR?

As of Thursday afternoon, the toll stood at 111, though the search continues, and Gov. Josh Green has warned scores more could be found. Maui County said nine victims have been identified. Officials have released five names while trying to reach families of the other four, but some other names have emerged from relatives.

HOW IS THE SEARCH BEING CONDUCTED?

Dozens of search crews and cadaver dogs went through devastated areas this week. The federal government said it dispatched coroners, pathologists, technicians, X-ray units and other equipment to identify victims and process remains.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services official Jonathan Greene said the work stood to be “ very, very difficult ” and called for patience, as have the police chief and others.

Rapid DNA-testing machines that were used after a 2018 blaze that largely destroyed Paradise, California, also are being put to work in Maui. The instruments, roughly the size of a large computer printer or microwave oven, were developed a decade or so ago and designed for use in the field. By automating a lot of steps that traditionally have been done manually in labs, they can produce a DNA profile in two hours, said Dr. Richard Selden, the founder and chief scientist of manufacturer ANDE Corp.

But a DNA fingerprint isn’t all it takes to make an identification.

AP

Wahiawa fire continues to burn

Friday 18 August 2023 11:00 , Rachel Sharp

Over in Wahiawa, a large brush fire that broke out on Wednesday afternoon continues to burn.

The fire is now 50 percent contained but has so far burned around 540 acres in an area close to the Kulaniloko birthing stones area, according to officials.

No homes have been destroyed or evacuated.

Three homeless people were moved from the area for their own safety, said officials.

Has Maui had fires before?

Friday 18 August 2023 10:45 , Rachel Sharp

The blazes currently devastating Maui and the Big Island in Hawaii already constitute the state’s worst natural disaster since 1960 – as at least 67 people are confirmed dead, thousands of residents and tourists have been forced to evacuate and the picturesque and historic beach resort of Lahaina has been destroyed.

What’s more, the tragedy also already represents America’s second-deadliest wildfire outbreak of the last 100 years, with only the Camp Fire that struck California in 2018 surpassing the current Hawaiian death toll, which is still rising and could yet surpass it.

That brush fire five years ago killed 88 people and did $20.2bn-worth of damage.

This time round, it is too early to begin to calculate the cost of the destruction wrought across the Pacific island chain, as firefighters are still battling to bring the conflagration under control, but the latest crisis could ultimately beat that unwanted record too.

What makes the horror currently unfolding all the more disturbing is that wildfires were regarded as uncommon in Hawaii until relatively recently, with those that did break out usually attributed to eruptions from one of the archipelago’s six active volcanoes or to lightning strikes.

The Independent’s Joe Sommerlad delves into the history of Hawaii’s wildfires:

A brief history of natural disasters in Hawaii, from tsunamis to wildfires

Spam rushes to help Maui amid devastating Hawaii wildfires

Friday 18 August 2023 10:30 , Stuti Mishra

Canned meat brand Spam, a beloved Hawaiian staple, has announced its intention to help bring food to the island amid the devastating wildfires.

In a statement shared to Facebook on 10 August, Spam, which is owned by Hormel Foods, announced it is partnering with humanitarian organisation Convoy of Hope to send more of the product to residents that have been affected by the wildfires across the state.

“We’ve been at a loss for words seeing the devastation that is happening on Maui,” the canned meat’s statement on Facebook began. “To our ‘ohana on Maui, we see you and love you. We’ve been working with our trusted partners on how we can help.

Watch: Scale of wildfire scarring in aerial footage

Friday 18 August 2023 10:10 , Stuti Mishra

WATCH: Maui official explains why they did not sound sirens before Hawaii wildfires

Friday 18 August 2023 09:50 , Rachel Sharp

A brief history of natural disasters in Hawaii

Friday 18 August 2023 09:30 , Stuti Mishra

A brief history of natural disasters in Hawaii, from tsunamis to wildfires

Tourist criticised for Hawaii vacation post during Maui wildfire crisis

Friday 18 August 2023 09:00 , Stuti Mishra

As the death toll from the Hawaii wildfires reaches at least 111 people, one woman decided to showcase her vacation to the island in a now-private video on TikTok.

In the video, user Yvette Mares showed off footage from her Hawaii vacation as an upbeat song called “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride” played in the background, according to the Daily Dot.

The track clearly contrasted the sombre tone currently associated with the state of Hawaii, as governor Josh Green recently announced that the number of fatalities may continue to increase by 10 to 20 people per day, while officials continue to search for survivors and victims.

Since the video has been posted, Mares has received backlash online for her lack of awareness and poor timing of the TikTok post. Although her account is now private, that has not stopped others from making sure the video didn’t go unnoticed.

Filipino among victims of Hawaii wildfires

Friday 18 August 2023 08:30 , Stuti Mishra

A Filipino national is believed to be one of the 111 victims of Hawaii's devastating wildfires, according to the Philippines media.

The Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Friday that one of the victims of the wildfires was a person from the southeast Asian country, according to ABS-CBN news.

The name of the person was not revealed and so far only a handful victims have been identified by authorities.

The DFA said the Filipino was a naturalized US citizen, who hailed from Ilocos

'He was trying to do the job': Former mayor defends Maui chief after resignation

Friday 18 August 2023 08:00 , Stuti Mishra

Former mayor of Maui county Alan Arakawa has defended emergency chief Herman Andaya after he resigned from his post following criticism over wildfire response.

Mr Andaya, who sent his resignation on Thursday citing health as a reason, had previously been deputy director of the Maui County department of housing and human concerns and had been chief of staff for former Mr Arakawa for 11 years.

The former mayor said he was disappointed by the resignation "because now we're out one person who is really qualified."

He said Mr Andaya was scrutinised for the job by the county's personnel service.

"He was trying to be strong and trying to do the job," Mr Arakawa said about the wildfire response.

"He was very, very heartbroken about all the things that happened."

How officials are identifying charred bodies after Maui fires

Friday 18 August 2023 07:21 , Stuti Mishra

As agonised loved ones yearn for information about those missing in Maui after the United States’ deadliest wildfire in more than a century, officials are struggling to identify the remains of more than 100 victims.

The advent of DNA technology and subsequent advances have provided powerful tools. But finding remains, zeroing in on genetic material or other clues and amassing the information needed to get a match still takes time – if certainty comes at all.

Here's a look at how the work of identification unfolds:

Identifying victims of the Maui wildfire will be a challenging task. Here's what it entails

Full story: Maui wildfire official quits after defending decision not to sound sirens warning of blaze

Friday 18 August 2023 07:00 , Stuti Mishra

Maui’s top emergencies official has abruptly resigned as local authorities came under increasing scrutiny over their response to the devastating wildfires that have killed at least 111 people on the Hawaiian island so far.

Herman Andaya, the chief of the Maui Emergency Management Agency, sent his letter of resignation to mayor Richard Bissen on Thursday, and it was accepted immediately, the county of Maui confirmed in a statement.

Here's what he said about his decisions in response to the wildfires and everything that led to his resignation:

Maui wildfire official quits after defending decision not to sound sirens

Search for missing moves beyond Lahaina

Friday 18 August 2023 06:45 , Stuti Mishra

The painstaking search for human remains through a burned-out area of ash and debris in Lahaina has covered at least 45 per cent of houses, governor Josh Green said on Thursday.

Authorities say the search for the missing has moved beyond Lahaina to other communities that were destroyed.

However, it will probably continue for at least another week.

The FBI's Honolulu division said it is helping Maui police locate and identify missing people. Immediate family members who are on Maui can provide DNA samples at the Hyatt Recency in Kaanapali beginning Friday, and those elsewhere can contact the FBI for instructions.

Maui power authority responds to criticism

Friday 18 August 2023 06:20 , Stuti Mishra

The Hawaii power authority has responded to criticism over leaving power lines on amid strong winds.

One video showed a cable dangling in a charred patch of grass, surrounded by flames, in the early moments, leading to speculations of a downed line being a possible cause of the wildfire.

“Facts about this event will continue to evolve,” Hawaiian Electric CEO Shelee Kimura wrote in an email to utility customers on Thursday, according to AP.

“And while we may not have answers for some time, we are committed, working with many others, to find out what happened as we continue to urgently focus on Maui’s restoration and rebuilding efforts.”

Watch: Maui official explained why they did not sound sirens before Hawaii wildfires

Friday 18 August 2023 05:30 , Stuti Mishra

Maui's emergency services chief resigns after facing criticism

Friday 18 August 2023 04:47 , Stuti Mishra

The head of the Maui Emergency Management Agency resigned abruptly on Thursday, a day after saying he had no regrets about not using sirens to warn residents of wildfires that devastated the historic seaside community of Lahaina and killed at least 111 people.

That decision from the agency directed by administrator Herman Andaya, coupled with water shortages that hampered firefighters and an escape route that became clogged with vehicles, has brought intense criticism from many residents.

Mayor Richard Bissen accepted Andaya's resignation effective immediately, the County of Maui announced on Facebook. Andaya cited unspecified health reasons, with no further details provided.

"Given the gravity of the crisis we are facing, my team and I will be placing someone in this key position as quickly as possible," Mr Bissen said in the statement.

A day earlier, Andaya defended the decision not to sound sirens as the flames raged. Hawaii has what it touts as the largest system of outdoor alert sirens in the world.

"We were afraid that people would have gone mauka," Mr Andaya said, using a Hawaiian word that means inland or toward the mountain. "If that was the case, then they would have gone into the fire."