Hawaii Governor Josh Green expressed on Sunday that the Maui wildfire, which caused the destruction of a historic town and claimed at least 93 lives, was heavily influenced by global warming. Speaking on MSNBC’s “The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart,” Green described the wildfire as a “fire hurricane” with winds reaching 80 mph and intense heat of up to 1,000 degrees, resulting in fire cyclones tearing through buildings. Green characterized Lahaina, the centuries-old town, as a “war zone” that was completely wiped out.
The governor attributed the rapid spread of the blaze to the strong winds generated by Hurricane Dora, despite the storm staying far to the south of the island, along with the extremely dry drought conditions in Maui. He explained how the fire quickly propagated from one area to another, while multiple fires burned simultaneously and were fueled by gusty winds. In just minutes, the fire moved at a speed of approximately 60 mph, causing widespread devastation.
Green emphasized the connection between the wildfire and global warming, stating that this is what a fire hurricane looks like in the era of climate change. He urged people to recognize the reality of global warming and take action to mitigate and reverse its effects.
The Lahaina fire has become the deadliest wildfire in the United States in over a century. However, officials are facing challenges in identifying the remains recovered due to their ash-like state, disintegrating upon contact.
Responding to criticism regarding the failure of the island’s siren system to warn residents of the approaching fire in a timely manner, Green acknowledged the ongoing investigation into whether sufficient measures were taken to activate the system. He noted that the wildfire caused significant damage to telecommunications infrastructure, hindering communication efforts.
Videos captured residents fleeing the town, with some resorting to jumping into the Pacific Ocean to escape the inferno. Green assured that authorities are committed to uncovering all the answers and determining whether the siren system could have been activated sooner. Despite the challenges posed by the destroyed telecommunications network, Green emphasized the importance of finding solutions to better communicate with residents during emergencies.
Overall, the devastation caused by the Maui wildfire serves as a stark reminder of the destructive power of wildfires in the face of global warming. It highlights the urgent need for collective action to combat climate change and protect vulnerable communities from such catastrophic events.
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