Hawaii wildfires burn homes and force evacuations, while strong winds complicate the fight
Source: AP
By JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER
Updated 12:47 AM CDT, August 9, 2023
HONOLULU (AP) — Wildfires in Hawaii fanned by strong winds burned multiple structures, forced evacuations and caused power outages in several communities late Tuesday as firefighters struggled to reach some areas that were cut off by downed trees and power lines.
The National Weather Service said Hurricane Dora, which was passing to the south of the island chain at a safe distance of 500 miles (805 kilometers), was partly to blame for gusts above 60 mph (97 kph) that knocked out power as night fell, rattled homes and grounded firefighting helicopters.
Acting Governor Sylvia Luke issued an emergency proclamation on behalf of Gov. Josh Green, who is traveling, and activated the Hawaii National Guard.
Fire crews on Maui were battling multiple blazes concentrated in two areas: the popular tourist destination of West Maui and an inland, mountainous region. It wasn’t immediately known how many buildings had burned, County of Maui spokesperson Mahina Martin said in a phone interview late Tuesday.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-winds-fires-evacuations-7137adb0fe7612a465f6ae2be7f96afb
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‘It’s apocalyptic’: People jump into the ocean to flee Maui wildfires as patients overwhelm hospitals and 911 gets cut off
https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/09/weather/maui-county-wildfires-hurricane-dora/index.html
By Holly Yan, Amanda Jackson, Jamiel Lynch and Chris Boyette, CNN
Updated 10:51 AM EDT, Wed August 9, 2023
Evacuation orders in parts of Hawaii as wildfires grow
03:20 - Source: CNN
The wildfires raging out of control in Maui are so catastrophic, some residents are hurling themselves into the ocean to escape the flames.
Even emergency crews might not be able to help as the infernos – fueled in part by Hurricane Dora churning some 800 miles away – have cut off 911 services and communications in Maui.
Videos show the fire burning in Lahaina, Maui County on Tuesday as a resident evacuates. Jayson Duque documented on his Instagram stories what he witnessed of the fire burning in Lahaina. He told CNN that he evacuated with his family to the south side of the island.
Hurricane-fueled wildfires trigger evacuations in Maui
“911 is down. Cell service is down. Phone service is down” Hawaii Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke told CNN on Wednesday morning.
“Our hospital system on Maui, they are overburdened with burn patients, people suffering from inhalation,” she said. “The reality is that we need to fly people out of Maui to give them burn support because Maui hospital cannot do extensive burn treatment.”
The disaster also has wiped out power to about 14,000 homes and businesses in Maui, according to PowerOutage.us.
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Clint Hansen took drone video Tuesday night that showed wildfires spreading just north of Kihei.
Clint Hansen shot this footage of catastrophic blazes on the island of Maui.
“Lahaina has been devastated,” Hansen told CNN. “People jumping in the ocean to escape the flames, being rescued by the Coast Guard. All boat owners are being asked to rescue people. Its apocalyptic.”
