Maui leaders are asking for patience, prayers and perseverance as authorities continue working to locate and identify people who died in the Maui wildfires. At least 55 people have died in the devastating fires and officials warn the toll could rise. Search and rescue teams from California and Washington state trained in disaster skills including using dogs to find human remains are traveling to Maui. A Hawaii Emergency Management Agency spokesperson says search-and-rescue teams are fanning out in stricken areas in the hopes of finding survivors. President Joe Biden has declared Hawaii a disaster area, clearing the way for federal aid to help Maui residents and businesses recover.
By REBECCA BOONE (Associated Press)
Follow live updates about wildfires burning across parts of Maui in Hawaii, destroying a historic town and forcing evacuations. The National Weather Service says Hurricane Dora, which passed south of the island chain, was partly to blame for strong winds that initially drove the flames, knocking out power and grounding firefighting helicopters.
Maui County confirmed Thursday night that the number of deaths has increased to 55.
Authorities said in a statement released at 9:15 p.m. that the number of fatalities increased by two in the total from the Lahaina, Pulehu and Upcountry fires.
The Lahaina fire was still active, the statement said.
Maui Mayor Richard Bissen said in a news conference Thursday afternoon that authorities are still trying to locate and identify people who died in Lahaina when the fire raced through the town.
“People whose homes are not damaged — you can come home as soon as we have recovered those who have perished,” he said. “Please allow us to complete this process.”
Search and rescue teams from California and Washington state, which are trained in disaster skills including using dogs to find human remains, have been deployed to Maui to assist with the process, officials said.
Maui Police Chief John Pelletier asked for patience, prayers and perseverance.
“We have to respect that we have loved ones in that earth and we have to get them out,” he said, adding that his officers are trained to catch “bad guys” and not specifically to pull bodies from buildings.
People also need to stay away from the burn area because it remains very hazardous, according to Fire Chief Brad Ventura, who said some people have been hurt by falling telephone poles.
Bissen said 29 downed power poles with live wires still attached added to the chaos by cutting off two important roads out of Lahaina to Wailuku and the airport. Only the narrow highway toward Kahakuloa was left open, contributing to traffic jams as people attempted to flee.
Palmdale, California, resident Kimberly Buen said she can’t reach her father, Maurice “Shadow” Buen, a 79-year-old retired sport fisherman who can’t see or walk well.
Her dad has two friends who drive him to the pharmacy and help read his mail, she said, but neither can get back to Lahaina, the historic town where her father lives that is now reduced to charred vehicles and ash.
“He has no way out,” Buen said. “I’ve been checking all the lists, all the social media and following all the people at the shelters. I already called the Red Cross. And I just don’t know what else to do.”
She’s not the only one frantically searching from afar.
Marcia Reynolds, of Natick, Massachusetts, had been deciphering handwritten shelter sign-in sheets posted online for signs of her sister, 77-year-old Regina Campisi, who is recovering from surgery. She was later found safe, Reynolds said.
“We are all so relieved,” she said.
Maui officials have opened a Family Assistance Center at the Kahului Community Center for people seeking those unaccounted for. The Maui Emergency Management Agency will pass out forms and help locate the missing.
The death toll from devastating wildfires in Maui climbed to 53 Thursday, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green told The Associated Press.
“We’re talking about the largest natural disaster of this generation in Hawaii,” Green said.
