Deadly wildfires burning across Maui prompt evacuations

The wildfires in Maui spread so quickly, many people did not have time to prepare, according to a harrowing account from a resident who witnessed the moments the fire swept through her town.

Claire Kent said her home in Lahaina was burned down in the fast-moving inferno.

“It happened so fast,” she said, describing how the day started like any other. Kent said she was off work because of high winds from Hurricane Dora. She works on a boat in the harbor and all the trips were canceled due to the weather.

“I heard the first explosions of the gas stations exploding, and then I saw the black smoke a couple streets away, and within half an hour, we were out the door,” Kent said. “I was at a friend's house. I didn’t even go home, I didn't have anything with me.”

She said within an hour, the fires had moved all the way to the end of the neighborhood. That’s when she realized they weren’t going to be able to go back.

She said that due to the spotty cell service, evacuation warnings were delivered by “people running down the street."

"There were guys riding around on bicycles just screaming at people to leave,” Kent said.

Some people, however, weren’t able to get out. She described the flames moving quickly, enveloping some areas in a matter of a half hour. Some people were jumping into the water to get away from the fire, she said.

"Everything is gone," she said. "It's the history of Lahaina that is just so devastating."

Listen to the full account:

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said he anticipates some deaths as wildfires affect the island of Maui.

"Heroic efforts by first responders have prevented many casualties from occurring, but some loss of life is expected," he said in a statement on Wednesday.  

Green, who expects to be back in Hawaii later tonight, said he intends to submit a disaster declaration request to President Joe Biden once a preliminary damage assessment is made, likely in the next day or two. 

“Our state appreciates the incredible outpouring of concern and prayers from the mainland. We won’t forget the aloha you have already begun to share with us,” Green said.

Hawaii’s destructive wildfires are being fanned by a combination of strong wind and dry conditions that are blanketing vast swaths of the island.

While scientists are still trying to fully understand how the climate crisis will affect Hawaii, they have noted that drought will get worse as global temperature increases.

Currently, Maui has moderate drought covering more than one-third of the island, with some areas seeing severe drought, according to the US Drought Monitor. The areas in drought coincide with where some of the fires are occurring.

Warmer temperatures increase the amount of water the atmosphere can absorb, which then dries out the landscape. As heat sets in, the dried-out land and vegetation can provide fuel for wildfires, which can swiftly turn deadly if strong winds help fan the flames into communities.

According to the 4th US National Climate Assessment, released in 2018, drought conditions are becoming more extreme and common in Hawaii and other Pacific Islands. Scientists noted in that report that the rainfall has generally been decreasing in Hawaii over time, with the number of consecutive dry days increasing.

Global scientists reported in 2021 that because of the climate crisis, droughts that may have occurred only once every decade or so now happen 70% more frequently.

Satellite imagery captured just how quickly Hawaii’s wildfires spread on Tuesday afternoon and evening as strong winds blew from the northeast.

Imagery from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows fire hotspots — which appear as glowing red circle — developed on Maui’s northwestern shore and in the higher terrain near the center of the island.

The hotspot that shows up brightest on the far west side of Maui is a massive, destructive fire burning through historic Lahaina.

A large plume of dark smoke unfurls in the area of the fire near the end of the satellite loop as strong winds blow the smoke westward, away from Maui and over Lanai.

Hawaii was predicted to have an above-average risk for fire in August — and that higher risk will remain in place for the next several months, according to a national collaborative agency.

The National Interagency Fire Center forecasts that Hawaii will be at the above-average mark for the remainder of August, plus into September, October and November. 

The NIFC collaborates with national and state wildland fire agencies to help coordinate fire management and support firefighting efforts, according to its website.

Much of Maui County, where some of the fires are burning, is experiencing a moderate drought, according to the US Drought Monitor. High winds associated with Hurricane Dora, which is located hundreds of miles southwest of Honolulu, are also helping to fan the flames across the dry landscape, experts say.

Evacuations are underway across Hawaii’s Big Island and Maui as several different wildfires rage across the islands.

Strong winds are helping to fan the fires, affecting the speed and direction of the infernos.

The Maui County Fire Department is urging people to prepare their homes for wildfires if they have the opportunity. Officials recommend clearing out combustibles within 30 feet of houses and sweeping vegetation and debris from the gutters and roof, according to a post. It's also important to have a clear evacuation plan and to make sure hydrants and water tasks are accessible, the fire department said.

If you find yourself caught in a wildfire, here are some things you can do to try to protect yourself, according to tips from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

In your car:

At home:

Outside:

Maui's Kahului Airport is sheltering approximately 1,800 travelers from “canceled flights and flight arrivals,” according to a social media post from the Hawaii Department of Transportation. 

The department said in the post that it “worked with airlines/TSA to shelter passengers for safety's sake as wildfires continue to burn in Lahaina and upcountry.” 

The state of Hawaii is discouraging any non-essential travel to the island of Maui because of the fires, Hawaiian Airlines told CNN in a statement.

While flight-tracking site FlightAware only shows two cancellations so far Wednesday at Kahului, along with 13 delays — or about 9% of departing flights — there are concerns that smoke from the wildfires could disrupt more flights.

Norma Pascua Simon, who works at Kahului Airport, told CNN that several travelers had no other choice but to sleep on airport grounds Tuesday night after their flights were canceled or delayed.

Major airlines are helping passengers rebook trips due to the Hawaii wildfires.

Hawaiian Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines are waiving change fees for trips to and from Kahului Airport on the island of Maui.

More than 120 commercial flights are scheduled to depart from the two-runway airport Wednesday, with only six Maui flights canceled in the last 24 hours, FlightAware data shows. Kahului Airport is served by 10 airlines in total, including Delta Air Lines and Alaska Airlines.

President Joe Biden is monitoring the wildfires in Hawaii, a White House official said Wednesday. The official added that the White House has been in contact with state and local officials.

The official did not weigh in on whether the president was considering sending more federal aid to help the state.