Stay informed about the latest updates on Wildfires by signing up for our free email newsletter, the myFT Daily Digest. We’ll send you a roundup of the most recent Wildfires news every morning.
The Hawaiian island of Maui is currently facing a devastating wildfire outbreak, with at least 93 reported deaths. This makes it the deadliest wildfire event in the United States in over a century. Firefighters have managed to contain one fire in southern Kihei, but efforts are ongoing to combat blazes in western Maui and inland areas, according to the Maui county government. The fires ignited on Tuesday, primarily affecting the historic town of Lahaina. Strong winds from Hurricane Dora, which passed south of Hawaii, contributed to the rapid spread of the fires. Hawaii Governor Josh Green has expressed concerns that the death toll may rise further.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Pacific Disaster Center estimate that the wildfires have caused approximately $5.5 billion in damages. Over 2,200 structures in Lahaina have been destroyed or damaged by the flames, mainly residential buildings. As a result, up to 4,500 people may require shelter. The fires have burned 2,170 acres of land. In response to the situation, President Joe Biden has declared a major disaster and authorized federal aid to support local and state efforts. Currently, over 200 FEMA personnel have been deployed to Hawaii.
Looking towards the future, Governor Green explains that policy reviews will be conducted to enhance safety measures. He acknowledges that the world is changing, and events like hurricane-fires and fire-hurricanes are becoming more common. The wildfires in Maui are considered the largest natural disaster the island has ever faced and recovery is expected to be a lengthy process.
The wildfire’s impacts extend beyond casualties and damages. It has also caused mobile phone and power outages, which may have a detrimental effect on Hawaii’s tourism-dependent economy. The local tourism authority has advised visitors with non-essential trips to leave Maui. Additionally, the fires in Hawaii occurred during a period of record-breaking heat worldwide, with July being the hottest month ever recorded. Rising temperatures contribute to droughts and wildfires in various countries.
These wildfires in Hawaii mark the deadliest event since the Cloquet wildfire in 1918, which claimed the lives of 453 people in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The wildfire season in the northern hemisphere has been particularly active, with prolonged fires in Canada devastating nearly 13 million hectares of boreal forest over four months. The smoke from the Canadian wildfires even reached cities in the United States, resulting in severe air quality deterioration.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
