island Maui inside Hawaii reduced to smoke and ash. This Tuesday, a small town named cabbage faced limited fires. Fueled by heat and strong winds, the brush spread through the week, sweeping across much of the island and leaving a devastating mark. At least 55 people have died, making this the deadliest fire in the United States since the 2018 Paradise blaze in California. Official sources say hundreds more are missing as crews continue to search amid the ashes.
The Hawaiian archipelago, home to 137 islands, is no stranger to natural disasters. Yet the two largest regions have already endured some of the worst damage in memory, with parts of the island of Hawaii and Maui impacted. Firefighters have managed to contain many ignition points, but the death toll is expected to rise as rescuers reach areas long engulfed by flames.
“We had 61 deaths in 1960 when a big wave swept the Big Island,” the state governor said on Thursday. Josh Green spoke to CNN. That event was a tsunami striking the island of Hawaii 63 years ago, the largest quake of 9.5 magnitude ever recorded in southwestern Chile. This time, the figure is likely to rise much higher as the search and recovery continues.
Absolute devastation from the wildfires in Maui, Hawaii. It is not an overstatement to say that Lahaina has been wiped from the map.
Credit: Vince Carter pic.
— Nahel Belgherze @WxNB_ 9 August 2023
impact of climate change
The Hawaiian government continues to investigate the origin of the Lahaina fire and its rapid spread across the landscape. A state of emergency was declared as residents faced flames racing through neighborhoods and coastal streets. Many sought safety by entering the sea, while more than 14,000 people were evacuated, with expectations that up to 14,500 more might seek shelter. The disaster scorched roughly 1,000 hectares and destroyed about 1,700 buildings, leaving a large portion of residents without power. Important heritage sites in Lahaina, once the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom, were severely damaged or charred.
Officials note that the blaze arose from a dangerous combination of factors. meteorological conditions intensified by climate change were cited by experts, including Robert Bohlin of the National Weather Service in Honolulu, in discussions with Scientific American. Before the fires began, Maui sat on red alert due to extreme heat and drought that had left the land parched. July forecasts warned that the risk of fires would be high during the dry season, and hurricane rough winds helped push the flames across the island.
Destruction is stark, yet the sentiment remains hopeful for the days ahead. pic.twitter.com cTTUSsRTon
— Governor Josh Green @GovJoshGreenMD 11 August 2023
“We’ve never seen a wildfire that affected a city in this way,” Green said. The governor pointed to the growing pressure from global warming and its role in creating hotter, drier conditions that accelerate spread. This is a moment that underscores challenges seen in other places around the world.
drought and wind
Data from the US Drought Monitor show that the primary factor behind the fires is unusually dry conditions affecting most of Hawaii. About 16 percent of Maui County faced severe drought on a Tuesday, up from the prior week, while overall drought covered roughly eighty percent of the islands. In addition to low moisture, parts of the Hawaiian archipelago are covered with grasses that burn more readily than native flora, contributing to the intensity of the fires.
Before and after photos of fire damage in Lahaina, Maui.
Absolutely devastating. pic.twitter.com rYfLYN2bAg
— KanekoaTheGreat KanekoaTheGreat 10 August 2023
This Tuesday, Hurricane Category 4 storm Dora moved along the coast of Hawaii. The strong winds powering those lines of the storm were measured between 48 and 97 kilometers per hour and likely aided the spread of flames from the coastal town of Lahaina to other parts of the island. Firefighters faced the challenge as winds could push a blaze toward a home in minutes. Maui’s deputy director explained the rapid pace of danger for residents and responders alike.
In the past, wildfires were rare in Hawaii. Historical records show fires are tied to lava flows and volcanic activity. Yet rising temperatures, shifting rainfall, and human activity have amplified the frequency and severity of fires. A notable event occurred in August 2018 when Lahaina was hit by multiple fires driven by winds from Hurricane Lane, damaging vehicles and homes and marking Maui’s worst fire episode to that point.