Death Toll In Maui Wildfires Reaches 67, Expected To Continue Rising
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Death Toll In Maui Wildfires Reaches 67, Expected To Continue Rising
The Maui wildfires have now become the deadliest natural disaster in the history of the state of Hawaii since it became a state in 1959
HAWAII - The death toll as a result of the Maui wildfires has now reached 67 and is expected to rise as the Coast Guard, along with federal, state, and local partners continue to respond to the fires and come to the aid of those affected by the fires.
A statement by the United States Coast Guard said that the following have been involved in the search and rescue efforts:
U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point MH-65 Dolphin Helicopters
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Kimball
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Juniper
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Gerczak
U.S. Coast Guard Station Maui
U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team Honolulu
U.S. Navy Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 37
Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Eight Good Samaritan vessels
The Maui wildfires have now become the deadliest natural disaster in the history of the state of Hawaii since it became a state in 1959, and as hundreds of people are still missing, the death toll is expected to continue to rise.
The death toll from the wildfires even surpassed that of of the 8.8 magnitude earthquake-triggered tsunami that hit in 1960 that led to the deaths of 61 people on the Hawaiian islands, as well as 138 people in Japan, and 32 dead or missing in the Philippines.
Although the latest estimates say the fire is 85% contained, the fire in Upcountry Maui is currently only 50% contained, according to a statement by the county of Maui, Hawaii.
According to a report by CBS News, some of the residents who escaped the fires said that they had not received any official warnings about the wildfires, but had to figure it out on their own after the smoke became so dark that they couldn't see anything outside, according to comments cited by the news agency.Â
County Of Maui Fire Updates
Lahaina, Pulehu and Upcountry Maui Fires Combined Update, 3 p.m.
The  Lahaina fire is 85 percent contained. The Pulehu/Kihei fire is 80  percent contained. The Upcountry Maui fire is 50 percent contained.  Firefighters continue battling flare-ups in all three fires.
The number of fatalities is confirmed at 67.
Federal  Emergency Management Agency Urban Search and Rescue Team, with expertise in human remains, are being deployed to Maui from Arizona and  Nevada. Five dogs are being utilized.
Barricades remain in place around Lahaina town, with police officers posted to keep people out of the areas. Health officials advise that burning areas are highly toxic. Â Inhalation of dust and other airborne particles can be a health hazard. Â Hot spots still exist and wearing a mask and gloves is advised.
Donations of non-perishable food, bottled water, and hygiene items will be accepted through 6 p.m. today and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at the  War Memorial Complex field. No clothing is being accepted.
With additional cellular phone service becoming available in West Maui, Â people are reminded to text instead of making phone calls so everyone can share the limited resources.
Shuttles are operating from  Kahului Airport and the three American Red Cross emergency shelters at  Maui High School, War Memorial Gymnasium, and Hannibal Tavares Community  Center to take visitors to West Maui to retrieve belongings so they can depart Maui. One member of a family is allowed on the shuttles, which are going to hotels in the Ka’anapali and Kapalua/Napili areas. Visitor access is being allowed only to retrieve luggage and identification, not for staying at hotels. Those dropped off by the shuttle are being picked up an hour later and returned to the locations where they were picked up.
Lahaina, Pulehu, and Upcountry Maui Fires Update No. 18, 2:45 a.m.
Firefighters continued working to extinguish flare-ups and contain fires in Lahaina, Â Pulehu/Kihei, and Upcountry Maui. The firefighting effort was bolstered by 21 firefighters from the Honolulu Fire Department, seven supervisory personnel, and four vehicles. A nine-member search-and-rescue team also arrived on the island.
Power was restored to all Upcountry water pumping stations today, water will be restored after lines are flushed.
County refuse collection in West Maui will resume on Friday, 8/11.
Six emergency shelters are open.Wailuku: War Memorial Gymnasium. Pukalani: Hannibal Tavares Community Center Kahului:  Maui High School, King’s Cathedral Church, The Church of Jesus Christ  of Latter-day Saints Maui Lani and Grace Bible Church
Visitors wanting to leave Maui are asked to book a flight with an airline. Â Travelers can book flights to Honolulu, then continue on another flight to the Mainland.
A Maui Oil tanker parked on the side of the road in North Kaʻanapali provided fuel for West Maui residents from noon to 5:30 p.m., pumped 370 gallons of diesel and 2,198 gallons of gas.
Food,  water, supplies, and clothing will be distributed to residents from 10  a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. A limited supply of baby products will also be given out.
A Federal Emergency  Management Area search-and-rescue team with the Nevada Task  Force arrived last night with two K-9 cadaver dogs.
Donations of non-perishable food, bottled water, hygiene items, and blankets are being accepted from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday at the War Memorial Complex.  Also needed are slippers, menʻs underwear, clothing, pillows, large duffel bags, and storage containers.
Some cellphone service was available in West Maui today. If you have a cell signal and cannot make a call, try texting instead.
Twenty-five buses operating a shuttle service from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday transported more than 1,200 visitors from Kaʻanapali hotel areas to  Kahului Airport. On Thursday, 14,900 visitors left on flights departing  Maui.
Unsafe water advisory issued for Upper Kula and Lahaina areas affected by wildfires
An unsafe water advisory was issued for Upper Kula and Lahaina areas affected by wildfires
The  County of Maui Department of Water Supply is issuing an unsafe water alert for areas of Upper Kula and Lahaina affected by wildfires. As a  precaution, customers in those areas are advised not to drink and not to boil their water. Instead of tap water, customers are advised to use only bottled water for drinking, brushing their teeth, making ice, and preparing food.
The advisory is in effect until further notice.
Failure to follow this advisory could result in illness, according to the department and the state Department of Health. Due to the wildfires, Â structures were destroyed and some areas of the water system lost pressure. Those conditions may have caused harmful contaminants, Â including benzene and other volatile organic chemicals, to enter the water system.
Customers are advised to:
Limit the use of hot water
Limit shower and bathing time and use lukewarm water and a ventilated area
Use a dishwasher to wash dishes and use the air dry setting
Wash clothing in cold water
Avoid using clothes dryers
Do not use hot tubs or swimming pools
Not use ice from automatic ice makers
Use proper ventilation when using water indoors
Access to West Maui resumes at 12 noon today
Residents of West Maui with identification showing proof of residency and visitors with proof of hotel reservations will have access to Lahaina via Maʻalaea beginning today, Friday, August 11 at noon with measures in place designed to secure the heavily impacted area of historic Lahaina town.
These measures include no unauthorized public access beyond barricaded areas and a curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily in historic Lahaina town and affected areas.
The curfew is intended to protect residences and property. Access to Lahaina at Maalaea will be closed at 10 p.m. and reopened at 6 a.m. daily. West Maui remains without power and water, and search crews continue efforts in the Lahaina town area for victims of the brush fire. Limited access into Lahaina, with no access into the restricted zone of historic Lahaina town, will be in effect until hazardous conditions improve.
67 fatalities confirmed amid active Lahaina fire
As firefighting efforts continue, 12 additional fatalities have been confirmed as of 1 p.m. today amid the active  Lahaina fire. This brings the death toll to 67 people.
Thirty-six fatalities were confirmed Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023. Another 19 were confirmed Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023.
The Lahaina fire is not yet contained.
No other details are available at this time.
Potable water tanker locations for Upcountry and West Maui
Due  to multiple ongoing brush fires in the Upcountry and West Maui areas,  the Department of Water Supply has staged water buffalo tankers at the  following locations:
Upcountry
1 Tanker at Crater Road
1 Tanker at Copp Road
1 Tanker at Kula Fire Station
1 Tanker at Rice Park
1 Tanker at Kula Community Center
1 Tanker at Keokea
West Maui
2 Tankers at Lahaina Baseyard
1 Tanker at Lahaina Gateway Shopping Center
1 Tanker at Lahaina Civic Center
1 Tanker at Lahaina Cannery Mall
The  Department of Water Supply urges all residents and visitors to please be mindful of their water use and especially reduce outdoor water use.  The Water Department is working diligently to ensure our resources are used as efficiently as possible and we need the community to do their part.
For emergency repairs and updates please refer all calls to (808) 270-7633.
Lahaina, Pulehu, and Upcountry Maui Fires Update No. 18, 2:45 a.m.
Firefighters continued working to extinguish flare-ups and contain fires in Lahaina, Â Pulehu/Kihei, and Upcountry Maui. The firefighting effort was bolstered by 21 firefighters from the Honolulu Fire Department, seven supervisory personnel, and four vehicles. A nine-member search-and-rescue team also arrived on the island.
Power was restored to all Upcountry water pumping stations today, water will be restored after lines are flushed.
County refuse collection in West Maui will resume on Friday, 8/11.
Six emergency shelters are open.Wailuku: War Memorial Gymnasium. Pukalani: Hannibal Tavares Community Center Kahului:  Maui High School, King’s Cathedral Church, The Church of Jesus Christ  of Latter-day Saints Maui Lani and Grace Bible Church
Visitors wanting to leave Maui are asked to book a flight with an airline. Â Travelers can book flights to Honolulu, then continue on another flight to the Mainland.
A Maui Oil tanker parked on the side of the road in North Kaʻanapali provided fuel for West Maui residents from noon to 5:30 p.m., pumped 370 gallons of diesel and 2,198 gallons of gas.
Food,  water, supplies, and clothing will be distributed to residents from 10  a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. A limited supply of baby products will also be given out.
A Federal Emergency  Management Area search-and-rescue team with the Nevada Task  Force arrived last night with two K-9 cadaver dogs.
Donations of non-perishable food, bottled water, hygiene items, and blankets are being accepted from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday at the War Memorial Complex.  Also needed are slippers, menʻs underwear, clothing, pillows, large duffel bags, and storage containers.
Some cellphone service was available in West Maui today. If you have a cell signal and cannot make a call, try texting instead.
Twenty-five buses operating a shuttle service from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.Thursday transported more than 1,200 visitors from Kaʻanapali hotel areas to Kahului Airport. On Thursday, 14,900 visitors left on flights departing  Maui.