Hawaii Wildfires: 67 Dead As Blaze Ravages Maui, Historic Town Of Lahaina. Here's What's Driving It

Hawaii Islands Fires: The blaze in the tourist island of Hawaii has killed 67 people so far, with authorities fearing that toll might increase as search operation continues in charred buildings.

An aerial view of part of a structure that still stands after being destroyed by a wildfire in Lahaina, Hawaii.

Hawaii Fires: Massive flames have wreaked havoc on famous tourist places of the Hawaii islands in the US killing 67 people and leaving cities to ashes, reported AFP. Officials, including Senator Brian Schatz, Democrat of Hawaii fear the toll might increase as authorities search hundreds of charred buildings after what is said to be one of the worst natural disasters in Hawaii's history, reported the New York Times.

"The death count that we had so far really constitutes anyone who was visible from outside of the buildings," Schatz said, as quoted by The NY Times. He added, "...so we are expecting bad news over the next couple of days."

Hawaii is an archipelago situated around 3,200 km west of the US mainland, as per Reuters. It has eight main islands, including Hawaii, known as the Big Island. 

The fire, which began on Tuesday, tore through the resort town of Mauli and the historic city of Lahaina where people complained of no warning by the authorities, as per the NY Times. The officials, however, said that the blaze moved so quickly that it was 'nearly impossible' to initiate evacuation on time. 

Hawaii's Governor Josh Green told CNN on Friday that he had authorised a review of the emergency response. Green defended officials saying a hurricane passing near the island had complicated firefighting efforts.

"When fires in Lahaina reignited, resources were focused on other blazes, and telecommunications were destroyed very rapidly," he said, as per the New York Times.

All About Hawaii Fires

What Started The Blaze?

There is no clarity so far as to how the fires began on the Big Island on Tuesday and the real reason is yet to be determined. However, according to Reuters, the National Weather Service had issued warnings for the Hawaiian Islands for high winds and dry weather, conditions perfect for wildfires. But it cancelled the same late Wednesday.

As per Reuters report, around 85 per cent of wildfires in the US are caused by humans, according to the US Forest Service. Notably, natural causes include lightning and volcanic activity.

According to Elizabeth Pickett, co-executive director of the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization, less than 1 per cent fires are caused by natural causes in Hawaii. The Islands have six active volcanoes, including one on Maui, stated Reuters.

What's Fuelling Hawaii Wildfires?

Officials said that Hurricane Dora that emerged hundreds of miles southwest of the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean, has intensified the flames across the US state, as per Reuters.

In addition to this, a low-pressure system to the west near Japan is also said to be contributing factor to the high sustained winds. Another fuelling substance is the dry vegetation.

Pickett said, as per Reuters, that the spread of flammable non-native grasses such as Guinea grass in areas of former farmland has created easily fire-catching materials in a large quantity. She added that such grasses comprise 26 per cent of Hawaii.

 

Fires Have Spread From Maui To Lahaina

The flames have spread through the beach resort city of Lahaina to Maui devastating the lives of over 13,000 people. Meanwhile, till Thursday evening, the Lahaina fire was 80 per cent contained, whereas the Pulehu fire was 70 per cent contained. 

Around 271 structures were destroyed or damaged, Honolulu Star-Advertiser cited official reports from the US Civil Air Patrol and Maui Fire Department, reported Reuters.