Jump to content

2023 Hawaii wildfires: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
→‎External links: created with {{Commons category}}
Line 69: Line 69:
{{As of|2023|8|9|df=US}}, the Hawaii Tourism Authority was requesting that all visitors on non-essential travel in Maui leave the island and strongly discouraging any further non-essential travel to the island.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 9, 2023 |title=Maui and Hawaiʻi Island Wildfire Update |url=https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/news/alerts/maui-and-hawai%CA%BBi-island-wildfire-update/ |access-date=August 10, 2023 |website=Hawai‘i Tourism Authority |archive-date=August 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810162245/https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/news/alerts/maui-and-hawai%CA%BBi-island-wildfire-update/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
{{As of|2023|8|9|df=US}}, the Hawaii Tourism Authority was requesting that all visitors on non-essential travel in Maui leave the island and strongly discouraging any further non-essential travel to the island.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 9, 2023 |title=Maui and Hawaiʻi Island Wildfire Update |url=https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/news/alerts/maui-and-hawai%CA%BBi-island-wildfire-update/ |access-date=August 10, 2023 |website=Hawai‘i Tourism Authority |archive-date=August 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810162245/https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/news/alerts/maui-and-hawai%CA%BBi-island-wildfire-update/ |url-status=live }}</ref>


[[Hawaiian Airlines]] offered those who were travelling to Maui or were on the island the choice to reschedule, receive travel credits, or cancel their trip at no cost while assisting in evacuations.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}}
[[Hawaiian Airlines]] offered those who were travelling to Maui or were on the island the choice to reschedule, receive travel credits, or cancel their trip at no cost while assisting in evacuations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-10 |title=Travel waiver for Maui travel due to fires |url=https://www.hawaiianairlines.com/alerts/travel-waiver-maui-fires |archive-url=https://archive.is/3R9WV |archive-date=2023-08-10 |access-date=2023-08-10 |website=Hawaiian Airlines}}</ref>


==Notes==
==Notes==

Revision as of 20:39, 10 August 2023

2023 Hawaii wildfires
Top: damage to the West Maui town of Lahaina; Lahaina Banyan Court Park pictured. Bottom: Coast Guard image of Lahaina harbor during rescue operations
Date(s)August 8, 2023
LocationHawaii
Statistics
Total fires3+
Total area13,000+ acres (5,260+ ha) [1]
Impacts
Deaths36[1]
Non-fatal injuries26+
Structures destroyed270+
DamageUnknown
Ignition
CauseUnknown

In early August 2023, a series of wildfires broke out in the U.S. state of Hawaii. Affecting the island of Maui, and to a lesser extent Hawaiʻi (also known as the Big Island), the wind-driven fires prompted evacuations, caused widespread damage, and killed at least 36 people in the town of Lahaina. The proliferation of the wildfires was attributed to dry, gusty conditions created by a strong high-pressure area north of Hawaii and Hurricane Dora to the south.[2]

An emergency proclamation was signed on August 8, authorizing several actions, including activation of the National Guard, appropriate actions by the director of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency and the Administrator of Emergency Management, and the expenditure of state general revenue funds for relief of conditions created by the fires.[3] By August 9, the state government of Hawaii issued a state of emergency for the entirety of the state.[2] On August 10, President Biden issued a federal major disaster declaration.[4]

Background

A map of the state of Hawaii shows Maui with the largest area under severe drought conditions.
The U.S. Drought Monitor showing drought conditions in Hawaii as of August 8, 2023

The typical area burned by wildfires in Hawaii has increased in recent decades, almost quadrupling. Experts blame the increase on the spread of non-native vegetation[a] and hotter, drier weather.[6] At the time of the fires, twenty percent of the county of Maui was experiencing moderate drought (level 1 of 4), and sixteen percent of the county was under severe drought conditions (level 2 of 4).[7] A decrease in rainfall consistent with the predicted impacts of anthropogenic climate change has been recorded in the Hawaiian islands, according to the US National Climate Assessment.[8]

In its monthly seasonal outlook, the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) forecast "above normal" potential for significant wildland fires for Hawaii in August, concentrated on the islands' leeward sides. In addition to noting plentiful vegetation growth from the previous wet season and the expanding drought, the NIFC mentioned that "tropical cyclones can also bring windy and dry conditions depending on how they approach the island chain and can exacerbate fire growth potential."[9]: 1, 2, 7 

In early August, a high-pressure system remained north of the Hawaiian islands, causing warm and sunny conditions there. The concurrent passage of Category 4 Hurricane Dora several hundred miles/km south created a large pressure difference between the high-pressure area and the low-pressure cyclone, causing strong gradient winds to develop over the islands.[10] A similar phenomenon occurred in 2017 in Portugal during the passage of Hurricane Ophelia.[11]

The National Weather Service's office in Honolulu issued a red flag warning on August 7 for the leeward portions of all the islands, highlighting that "very dry fuels combined with strong and gusty easterly winds and and low humidities will produce critical fire weather conditions through Tuesday night." East winds of 30–45 miles per hour (48–72 km/h) with gusts over 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) were forecast.[12] In Maui County, officials reported gusts up to 80 miles per hour (130 km/h) in the Upcountry Maui area.[13]

Fires

Maui

From August 8 to 10, wildfires in Maui caused widespread destruction in the town of Lahaina in West Maui.[14][15][16] The exact cause of the wildfires is presently unknown.[17] As of August 10, at least 36 people were reported dead in Lahaina, and 271 structures had been affected, including several historic landmarks.[18]

A separate fire was reported just past midnight on August 8 near the community of Kula. As of August 9, the fire had burned approximately 1,000 acres (400 ha) and forced the evacuation of nearby residents.[13]

A third major fire in Kihei also led to an evacuation of nearby residents.[19]

Hawaiʻi

In Hawaii County, neighborhoods in the North and South Kohala districts of the Island of Hawaii were evacuated due to rapidly spreading brush fires.[20] On August 9, several other brush fires broke out near the communities of Naalehu and Pahala; those fires were quickly brought under control.[20]

Oahu

Multiple brush fires burned on Oahu in the first week of August stretching fire department resources. The fires were contained by August 4, but the island's south and west sides remain at risk of fire.[21][22]

Impacts

Casualties

As of August 10, 2023, there are 36 confirmed deaths from the Lahaina fire on Maui.[1][23] The mayor of Maui County had noted earlier that authorities were "still in a search and rescue mode" and that the number could change.[24] The death toll in western Maui made it the deadliest wildfire ever recorded in the state of Hawaii.[6]

As of August 9, at least twenty individuals had been hospitalized at a Maui hospital. Six individuals, three of whom with critical burns, had been transported by air ambulance from Maui to hospitals on the island of Oahu.[25]

Damage

One of the wildfires burned much of the community of Lahaina, where more than 270 structures were damaged or destroyed.[16][15] Among the structures destroyed were Waiola Church and Pioneer Inn.[13][26] Lahaina's famous banyan tree was severely charred, though appeared to be left standing after the fire.[27]

The fire also destroyed several cell towers in affected areas, causing service outages and 9-1-1 emergency telephone services to be rendered unavailable.[28]

The wildfire that burned near the community of Kula, Maui destroyed at least two homes.[19]

Evacuations

The Coast Guard confirmed that around a dozen people had jumped into the sea to escape the fire;[15] on August 8 it rescued 14 people who had done so.[29] As of August 9, more than 2,100 people on Maui remained in shelters.[24] San Francisco mayor London Breed was evacuated from Maui.[30]

Response

A Hawaii Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopter performs an aerial water bucket drop on a Maui wildfire on August 9

Hawaii Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke, who was serving as acting governor in the absence of Governor Josh Green while he was traveling outside of Hawaii, issued an emergency proclamation and activated the Hawaii National Guard.[15] The Hawaii National Guard, together with the 25th Infantry Division from Schofield Barracks on Oahu, deployed to Maui and Hawaii Island to assist with fire suppression support, search and rescue operations, and traffic control. Two UH-60 Blackhawk and one CH-47 Chinook helicopters were also deployed to support fire suppression efforts.[31]

U.S. President Joe Biden ordered the mobilization of "all available federal assets" to help respond to the wildfires. In a statement, Biden noted that the Third Fleets of the United States Coast Guard and the United States Navy were supporting "response and rescue efforts", the United States Marines were providing Black Hawk helicopters to help fight fires in Hawaii County, and the United States Department of Transportation was working with commercial airlines to help evacuate tourists from Maui.[32] To help with the ongoing Coast Guard search and rescue operation, the United States Navy sent in Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron Three Seven (HSM-37) and MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, with the United States Indo-Pacific Command standing ready to provide additional assistance as needed.[33]

President Biden approved the state of Hawaii's request for a major disaster declaration on August 10, making federal funding available for recovery efforts in the affected areas.[34]

As of August 9, 2023, the Hawaii Tourism Authority was requesting that all visitors on non-essential travel in Maui leave the island and strongly discouraging any further non-essential travel to the island.[35]

Hawaiian Airlines offered those who were travelling to Maui or were on the island the choice to reschedule, receive travel credits, or cancel their trip at no cost while assisting in evacuations.[36]

Notes

  1. ^ According to Clay Trauernicht, who is a fire scientist at the University of Hawaii, Guinea grass, which is an invasive species found across parts of Maui, grows as quickly as 6in (15cm) a day and reach up to 10ft (3 meters) tall. The grass creates a tinderbox that’s ripe for wildfire as it dries out. "These grasslands accumulate fuels very rapidly," Trauernicht said. "In hotter conditions and drier conditions, with variable rainfall, it’s only going to exacerbate the problem."[5]

References

  1. ^ a b "36 confirmed dead: federal and local officials give updates on Maui fires". KITV4. August 9, 2023. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Shalvey, Kevin; Arancio, Victoria; El-Bawab, Nadine; Deliso, Meredith (August 9, 2023). "'I was trapped': Maui fire survivors speak out as emergency declared". ABC News. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  3. ^ "Office of the Governor – News Release – Emergency Proclamation for Maui Air Travel and Hurricane Dora". governor.hawaii.gov. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  4. ^ Klein, Priscilla Alvarez,Betsy (August 10, 2023). "Biden says 'every asset that we have will be available' to Hawaii residents affected by wildfires | CNN Politics". CNN.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Anguiano, Dani (August 10, 2023). "Hawaii wildfires: how did the deadly Maui fire start and what caused it? Rapidly moving fires that exploded on Tuesday night on the island of Maui have killed dozens and displaced thousands". The Guardian. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Fuller, Thomas (August 9, 2023). "Maui Town Is Devastated By Deadliest Wildfire to Strike Hawaii". New York Times. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  7. ^ Jones, Judson (August 10, 2023). "Hawaii Wildfires: Update from Judson Jones". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  8. ^ Ramirez, Rachel (August 9, 2023). "Why did the Maui fire spread so fast? Drought, nonnative species and climate change among possible reasons". CNN. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  9. ^ "National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook: Outlook Period – August through November 2023" (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center. August 1, 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 4, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  10. ^ Iati, Marisa; Dance, Scott; Hassan, Jennifer (August 9, 2023). "Wildfires burning in Hawaii, fanned by intense winds, force evacuations". Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  11. ^ Ramos, Alexandre M.; Russo, Ana; DaCamara, Carlos C.; Nunes, Silvia; Sousa, Pedro; Soares, P. M. M.; Lima, Miguel M.; Hurduc, Alexandra; Trigo, Ricardo M. (March 17, 2023). "The compound event that triggered the destructive fires of October 2017 in Portugal". iScience. 26 (3): 106141. Bibcode:2023iSci...26j6141R. doi:10.1016/j.isci.2023.106141. ISSN 2589-0042. PMC 10006635. PMID 36915678.
  12. ^ NWS Honolulu (August 7, 2023). "Red Flag Warning". Iowa Environmental Mesonet. Iowa State University. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  13. ^ a b c Tanji, Melissa; Thayer, Matthew (August 9, 2023). "Maui on fire: Fierce winds fuel damaging fires in Lahaina, Upcountry". The Maui News. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  14. ^ Yan, Holly; Maxouris, Christina; Jackson, Amanda; Lynch, Jamiel (August 9, 2023). "'It's apocalyptic': People jump into the ocean to flee Maui wildfires as patients overwhelm hospitals and 911 gets cut off". CNN. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  15. ^ a b c d Kelliher, Jennifer Sinco; McAvoy, Audrey; Weber, Christopher (August 9, 2023). "Wildfire on Maui kills at least 6, damages over 270 structures as it sweeps through historic town". AP News. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  16. ^ a b Staff (August 9, 2023). "Much of historic Lahaina town believed destroyed as huge wildfire sends people fleeing into water". Hawaii News Now. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  17. ^ Caldwell, Alicia A.; Wright, Michael; Calfas, Jennifer (August 10, 2023). "Wildfires Leave at Least 36 Dead on Hawaii's Maui". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  18. ^ "At least 36 killed on Maui as fires burn through Hawaii and thousands race to escape". Associated Press. August 10, 2023. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  19. ^ a b "Hawaii responds as deadly wildfires across 2 islands destroy communities". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. August 9, 2023. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  20. ^ a b "Hawaii island battling new fire in Kau, along with 3 blazes in Kohala". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. August 9, 2023. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  21. ^ staff, By Star-Advertiser; Aug 4, 2023 (August 4, 2023). "2 Oahu brush fires contained after burning 250 acres". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023. {{cite web}}: |first2= has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ "Multiple blazes, including 2 brush fires, keep Oahu fire crews busy". Hawaii News Now. August 4, 2023. Archived from the original on August 7, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  23. ^ "As Lahaina firefighting continues, 36 total fatalities have been discovered". Maui County. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  24. ^ a b Knutson, Jacob (August 9, 2023). "Hawaii wildfires kill at least 6 people in Maui and force evacuations". Axios. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  25. ^ "Fires on Hawaii's Maui island kill at least 6 as blazes force people to flee flames". CBS News. August 9, 2023. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  26. ^ Schaefers, Allison (August 9, 2023). "Century-old Pioneer Inn among property casualties of West Maui wildfires". The Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  27. ^ Heaton, Jack Truesdale, Thomas (August 10, 2023). "Lahaina Emerges From 'Devastating' Fire As Relief Begins To Arrive". Honolulu Civil Beat. Retrieved August 10, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  28. ^ Boyette, Holly Yan,Amanda Jackson,Jamiel Lynch,Chris (August 9, 2023). "At least 6 dead as Maui wildfires overwhelm hospitals, sever 911 services and force people to flee into the ocean". CNN. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  29. ^ Anguiano, Dani (August 10, 2023). "Hawaii wildfires: How did the deadly Maui fire start and what caused it?". The Guardian. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  30. ^ "SF Mayor London Breed among Bay Area travelers impacted by devastating Hawaii wildfires". ABC7 San Francisco. August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  31. ^ "Army, Hawaii National Guard deploy to assist in wildfire efforts". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. August 9, 2023. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  32. ^ "Biden pledges 'all available federal assets' for response to wildfires". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. August 9, 2023. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  33. ^ "Maui wildfire updates: Death toll rises to 36; 271 structures impacted". Maui Now. August 8, 2023. Archived from the original on August 8, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023. {{cite news}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; August 10, 2023 suggested (help)
  34. ^ "President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Hawaii Disaster Declaration". whitehouse.gov. August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  35. ^ "Maui and Hawaiʻi Island Wildfire Update". Hawai‘i Tourism Authority. August 9, 2023. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  36. ^ "Travel waiver for Maui travel due to fires". Hawaiian Airlines. August 10, 2023. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2023 Hawaii wildfires.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2023_Hawaii_wildfires&oldid=1169715488"