Hawaii Wildfires Engulf Houses and Lead to Evacuations; Strong Winds Hamper Firefighting Efforts

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Strong winds in Hawaii have exacerbated wildfires that have burned numerous buildings, necessitated evacuations, and resulted in power failures in various communities late on Tuesday. Firefighters faced difficulty accessing certain areas blocked by fallen trees and power lines.

Hurricane Dora, positioned at a secure distance of 500 miles (805 kilometers) to the south of the archipelago, was partially responsible for the winds exceeding 60 mph (97 kph). These winds caused power loss, shook homes, and grounded firefighting helicopters as darkness set in.

Acting Governor Sylvia Luke declared a state of emergency in place of Gov. Josh Green, who was away, and called in the Hawaii National Guard.

In Maui, fire teams were working to contain fires in two main locations: the popular tourist spot of West Maui and a mountainous inland region. The number of structures burned was not immediately clear, according to County of Maui spokesperson Mahina Martin, who spoke late on Tuesday.

The strong wind gusts hindered helicopters from water bombing the flames or assessing the accurate size of the fires, Martin explained. Firefighters also had to navigate roads obstructed by downed trees and power lines. About 13,000 Maui residents were without electricity, as Hawaiian Electric announced on Tuesday night.

Multiple fires and evacuations in various district areas made this “one of the more challenging days for our island,” Martin remarked.

Inland Maui saw wind speeds of 80 mph (129 kph), causing a previously-contained fire to reignite. Fire Assistant Chief Jeff Giesea warned of the rapid spread of fire due to the winds.

Hurricane Dora added complexity to the firefighting efforts during an already arid season. The situation was further intensified by Hawaii’s position between high pressure to the north and Hurricane Dora’s low pressure system, creating a hazardous fire environment, as explained by meteorologist Jeff Powell in Honolulu.

He described the wildfires as an indirect consequence of Hurricane Dora, terming them a “peripheral result” of the storm’s winds.

In Maui’s Kula area, two houses were lost to a fire that covered around 1,100 acres (1.7 square miles, or 4.5 square kilometers), according to Maui Mayor Richard Bissen, who also reported the evacuation of about 80 individuals from 40 homes.

Big Island Mayor Mitch Roth discussed the evacuation of approximately 400 homes in four northern communities, where a house’s roof had ignited.

The nature of Hawaii’s fires, typically smaller and occurring in the islands’ dry grasslands, differs from mainland U.S. fires. Historically rare in Hawaii and other tropical islands, fires can cause significant environmental harm, such as damage to coral reefs through soil erosion.

A significant fire on the Big Island in 2021 resulted in the destruction of homes and the evacuation of thousands.

Oahu, including Honolulu, was also grappling with power failures, fallen power lines, and traffic issues, as reported by Adam Weintraub, communication director for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency.

Warnings for high winds and dangerous fire weather were in effect, Powell mentioned, with conditions anticipated to subside by Wednesday and into Thursday.

___ Audrey McAvoy, a writer for Big Big News, contributed to the coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Wildfires

More about Wildfires

• Hawaii Wildfires Fueled by Strong Winds
• Impact of Hurricane Dora on Hawaii Wildfires
• Challenges Faced by Firefighters in Hawaii
• Hawaii’s Unique Wildfire Characteristics
• Environmental Impact of Fires in Hawaii
• National Weather Service Alerts