55 dead, 1,000 missing in devasting Hawaii wildfire

HONOLULU, Hawaii – At least 55 people have died and 1,000 are missing in devastating wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui.

The fire has also destroyed the historic town of Lahaina, the former capital of Hawaii.

Many of the buildings burned to the ground.

The fires were fueled by unusually dry weather and 80-mile-per-hour winds from Hurricane Dora south of Hawaii.

Climate activists have called on President Biden to declare a national climate emergency.

Maj. Gen. Kenneth Hara, Hawaii’s top defense official, said Thursday the wildfires have been contained.

However, authorities are still assessing the widespread damage, displacement, and loss of life.

Former Hawaii Rep. Kaniela Ing called the wildfires further evidence of the climate emergency.

Ing also condemned Republican politicians who deny the existence of climate change. He called them arsonists.

Climate scientist Michael Mann said the fires are a compound climate disaster made worse by the hurricane’s fast winds.

Hawaii Governor Josh Green urged visitors to leave Maui or cancel nonessential travel.

He appealed to residents with unharmed homes to take others in as they continue search and recovery efforts.

‘If you have additional space in your home, if you have the capacity to take someone in from west Maui, please do,” Green said. 

“Please consider bringing those people into your lives.”

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, more than one-third of Maui was in at least moderate drought on August 1.

Nearly 16% of the island was in severe drought the day before the flames spread to parts of the island.