At around 12 a.m. on Tuesday, August 8, heavy smoke was reported in the Upcountry region of Maui, Hawaii. Around 1,000 acres of land were burned in the brushfire,, and approximately 50 people were forced to evacuate from their homes. Just days before, many on the island of Maui were learning about the arrival of Hurricane Dora and its possible effects on their land. However, only a few seemed to worry about it, as it was also said that the hurricane was to stay around 700 miles off the coast of the island. The rain and strong winds were anticipated by residents and tourists staying on the island. What was not anticipated were the tragic events that soon followed.
As the clock approached 4 p.m. on the same day, a large fire broke out in Lahaina, a town located on the western coast of Maui, and caused many main roads to be temporarily shut down. With winds as strong as 80 miles per hour, Lahaina stood no chance against the rapidly growing wildfire. Residents of Lahaina had no time to gather any valuables. Many were forced to flee with whatever they could hold. Those who were too late to evacuate were left with no choice but to take shelter on the beach, with some even having to dive into the ocean to escape.
Night fell, and the flames only seemed to be growing at an even more alarming rate. Not only did the strong winds spread fires, but it left thousands without power. People were not able to use the internet for evacuation warnings. Many were left wondering if their family members were alive as cell towers were shut down. Due to the darkness of the night, the damage that occurred was not very clear. However, as the sun rose, many awoke to countless pictures and videos of one of Maui’s most historic towns, Lahaina, completely burned down. Hundreds of businesses and homes were turned to nothing but ash overnight. As the day progressed, countless people were reported missing as they could still not contact any family members. Luckily, winds seemed to die down slightly, and many fires were contained.
Almost a month later the effects are still tragic. Approximately 100 people were reported to have passed away, making these fires the worst natural disaster we have seen in the history of Hawaii. Still to this day, over 350 people are still missing as a result of the fires. It will be a long road to complete restoration. However,, with its tight communities that always lend a helping hand to each other, Maui is in good hands.
