Breaking: Escaping to the Ocean - Residents Flee as Maui Wildfires Overwhelm Hospitals

Rekindled by powerful winds from an approaching hurricane, wildfires in Hawaii have led to the mandatory evacuation of numerous residents, leaving thousands without electricity. These fires have ravaged the historic Lahaina Town, reducing structures to ashes and compelling certain inhabitants to seek refuge in the ocean to evade the encroaching inferno.

According to Mahina Martin, the spokesperson for the County of Maui, this catastrophe has impacted two distinct regions on the island: Lahaina, a locality inhabited by residents and tourists alike, featuring a commercial sector in West Maui, and Kula, a residential expanse nestled within the elevated and mountainous Upcountry area. The authorities have verified the safety of Kihei, which accommodates a blend of permanent residences, short-term vacation rentals, condominiums, and visitor amenities in South Maui, allowing its residents to return to their homes.

Maui's county officials have confirmed the destruction of numerous structures and have issued multiple evacuation mandates as emergency teams strive to quell both wild brush and structural fires. Mahina Martin stated that the exact number of evacuees, the scale of the fires, and the extent of structural damage remain uncertain.

"We will acquire substantial insights at daybreak," she affirmed. "This unprecedented event has impacted vast stretches of our island, necessitating a comprehensive response effort."

In response to the crisis, Acting Governor Sylvia Luke and Maui Mayor Richard Bissen have declared states of emergency. The Hawaii National Guard has been mobilized to support the Maui Police Department in managing traffic control points, as stated by the Hawaii Adjutant General.

The National Weather Service has elucidated that Hurricane Dora, positioned 500 miles south of the island chain, in conjunction with a potent high-pressure system to the north of the state, has generated forceful, destructive winds during the nighttime hours.

"Given the exceptionally arid conditions coupled with robust, gusty easterly winds and low humidity levels, a red flag warning for the leeward areas has been issued by the weather service, indicating critical fire weather conditions that will persist throughout the afternoon hours," the statement from the weather service read.

The Governor has reached out to the White House, indicating that there will likely be fatalities.

Governor Josh Green conveyed on Wednesday, through an official statement, his anticipation of initiating a formal request for a Presidential Disaster Declaration from the White House. This request is expected to be made within the next 36 to 48 hours, contingent on a more comprehensive assessment of the extent of the destruction.

Despite his prior plans for personal travel outside the state until the upcoming week, Green is set to return on Wednesday night to address the ongoing crisis. Acknowledging the commendable efforts of the first responders that have averted numerous casualties, he also recognized that there is an unfortunate inevitability of some lives being lost.

"While the valiant endeavors of our first responders have managed to prevent many casualties, we must brace ourselves for the inevitable reality of some loss of life," he stated.

Green extended gratitude on behalf of the state for the remarkable surge of concern and well-wishes from across the mainland. He assured that the spirit of aloha demonstrated by others will be remembered and cherished throughout this ordeal.

Individuals with burn injuries have been transferred to neighboring islands.

Shayne Enright, the spokesperson for the Honolulu Emergency Services Department, has disclosed that burn victims have been airlifted to the island of Oahu. Although the precise number of patients brought in from Maui remains unconfirmed, Enright did confirm the critical transfer of a woman in her 60s to a burn center in a Honolulu hospital.

CNN received a statement from Acting Governor Sylvia Luke, who informed them that Maui's medical facilities are currently overwhelmed due to the influx of burn victims and individuals suffering from smoke inhalation. The process of transferring patients in need of care to alternative medical facilities has been challenging.

"We are actively engaged in discussions with other hospital networks to alleviate this strain. The reality we are facing is that we must airlift individuals from Maui to access specialized burn treatment, as the capabilities of Maui's hospital are insufficient for comprehensive burn care," Luke elaborated. "In addition to addressing the disaster itself, we are grappling with substantial transportation obstacles."

The situation underscores not only the healthcare crisis at hand but also the multifaceted challenges posed by the ongoing disaster, including the logistical hurdles of providing adequate medical attention and transportation services.

Front Street ablaze, all routes to the cherished Lahaina Town sealed off.

Access to Lahaina, a municipality housing approximately 13,000 residents, and West Maui has been restricted to emergency services only, according to county officials who relayed the announcement on Wednesday. Visual evidence posted by the county during the night displayed a fiery line traversing an intersection within Lahaina, with flames dancing above structures in the town's historic sector, an area meriting recognition on the National Register of Historic Places.

In unequivocal terms, officials issued a warning: "Under no circumstances venture into Lahaina town."

Governor Green revealed that extensive portions of the region have fallen victim to destruction, leading to the displacement of numerous local families.

Describing the plight, Alan Dickar, proprietor of a business along Front Street, recounted to CBS News that structures on both sides of this bustling tourist enclave have been engulfed by the flames. Dickar conveyed his observation that the fire department seemed to be struggling to manage the situation.

"Maui is ill-equipped to manage this crisis," Dickar lamented. "Countless individuals have lost their livelihoods due to the incineration of numerous businesses. Numerous homes have been reduced to ashes. The repercussions for Maui will be deeply distressing."

The flames also consumed Lahaina's historic Waiola Church and the adjacent Lahaina Hongwanji Mission temple on Wednesday, as reported by the Maui News. Established in 1823, the church holds significant historical importance, and its graveyard, reputed to be Hawaii's initial Christian cemetery, serves as the final resting place for early members of the royal family of the Kingdom of Hawaii, according to the church's website.

Stay informed about the current wildfire situation and red flag warnings through the continuously updated Maui fires map.

This map incorporates data from multiple incident and intelligence sources to provide you with the latest information. Keep track of the evolving situation to ensure your safety and preparedness.

Approximately 2,000 individuals find themselves stranded at Maui's Kahului Airport.

Mahina Martin, a spokesperson, indicated that the Kahului Airport on Maui is currently accommodating over 2,000 visitors who have either encountered flight cancellations or lacked alternative destinations. As disclosed by the Hawaii Department of Transportation on Wednesday, around 1,800 people chose to remain in the airport overnight, primarily due to the closure of several highways on the island's western region.

In response to this predicament, officials shared that the Hawaii Department of Transportation collaborated with airlines and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to ensure the safety of passengers. This measure was taken as the wildfires continue to rage in Lahaina and the upcountry areas of the island.

The dedicated efforts of nearly 100 firefighters are in progress, including 11 from the state's airport rescue personnel, as detailed by county authorities.

Closure of 10 schools, including one repurposed as an evacuation center.

The Hawaii Department of Education has confirmed that ten public schools in Maui will remain closed on Wednesday. Among these, one school has been repurposed as an evacuation shelter to accommodate those displaced by the ongoing disaster.

Specifically, Lahainaluna High School has taken the step to transfer student residents to Maui High School on Tuesday evening. The latter has been designated as an evacuation shelter to provide a safe haven for evacuees, allowing student boarders to be collected by their families or emergency contacts. In the case of Lahainaluna High School, the campus will remain closed on Wednesday due to issues stemming from power outages, wind-related damages, and the mandatory evacuations related to the brush fire.

With the progression of the brush fire towards Kihei, officials have declared the closure of four public schools in South Maui on Tuesday. This action is in addition to the closure of schools in the West, Upcountry, and Central Maui regions, which have been affected by the same situation.

Residences decimated, populace compelled to evacuate.

Responding to a dire situation, the Coast Guard has been actively involved in areas where residents have sought refuge in the ocean due to the overwhelming smoke and fire conditions, as communicated by county officials. In a notable instance, a Coast Guard vessel managed to rescue 12 individuals from the waters near Lahaina.

Tiare Lawrence, a resident of Lahaina, recounted to Hawaii News Now that the sight resembled a scene from an apocalyptic narrative, as people hurriedly fled for their lives. She lamented that every acquaintance she knows in Lahaina has lost their homes to the destruction.

"It's incredibly challenging. I am currently located Upcountry and the realization that I'm unable to contact any of my family members is heartbreaking. I'm still in the dark about my younger brother's whereabouts. I have no information about my stepfather either," Lawrence expressed.

In the region of Kula, at least two homes were consumed by a fire that engulfed around 1,100 acres, as confirmed by Maui Mayor Richard Bissen in his conversation with the Associated Press. Approximately 80 individuals were evacuated from 40 residences.

To address the dire circumstances, the Red Cross has established numerous emergency shelters to aid affected residents. Mahina Martin indicated that one of these evacuation centers alone has accommodated more than 1,200 people.

She further commented, "I have no doubt that those at our evacuation centers are experiencing tremendous anxiety."

For a comprehensive view of the wildfire smoke distribution, a map has been made available to track fires both within Hawaii and across the United States.

Power outages affecting thousands, loss of 911 service in West Maui.

The power outage predicament has left over 14,000 customers within Maui county without electricity, as reported by Poweroutage.us. In light of this situation, county authorities strongly advised residents to maintain a distance of at least 30 feet from any downed power lines. At one point, the presence of these power lines compelled the closure of sections of Honoapiilani Highway. A partial reopening of the highway took place on Tuesday evening, permitting ingress and egress to Lahaina, albeit with caution due to expected slow-moving traffic through the bypass.

In West Maui, an alarming development has been the unavailability of 911 emergency service. Mahina Martin conveyed the difficulty in managing evacuation directives for Lahaina, citing the absence of cellular service and the limited functionality of landlines as significant hindrances.

Beyond Maui, the island of Oahu, which includes Honolulu, grappled with its own share of challenges such as power failures, fallen power lines, and traffic disruptions, as outlined by Adam Weintraub, the communication director for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency.

Intense winds are acting as a catalyst for the escalating flames.

In the vicinity of Kula, wind speeds have surged to a remarkable 80 mph, significantly impacting the trajectory and momentum of the fire's spread, as highlighted by Mahina Martin.

These potent gusts have impeded aerial water-dropping operations from helicopters and also hindered the accurate assessment of fire size. On-the-ground firefighting efforts have been met with challenges, such as blocked roads due to fallen trees and power lines.

The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued both a high wind warning and a red flag warning for hazardous fire weather conditions, which are anticipated to persist until Wednesday.

Maui's fire officials have cautioned that the unpredictable wind patterns, coupled with complex terrain, steep slopes, diminishing humidity levels, and the fire's current location, have rendered the prediction of its trajectory and velocity exceedingly difficult. The erratic winds can propel fire embers upwards, leading to ignition far from the initial source of the blaze and potentially sparking new fires in unexpected areas.

Fire Assistant Chief Jeff Giesea emphasized, "The fire can be a mile or more from your house, but in a minute or two, it can be at your house. Burning airborne materials can light fires a great distance away from the main body of fire."

The interplay between these uncontrollable wind dynamics and the fire's behavior underscores the perilous and rapidly evolving nature of the ongoing situation.

Fires also raging on the Big Island, prompting evacuations and power outages.

Hawaii County officials have reported the presence of two active brush fires in North and South Kohala on the Big Island. These fires have led to mandatory evacuations and disruptions in power supply for the affected areas.

Responding to the situation, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) granted approval for the state's request for a disaster declaration. This declaration aims to provide crucial assistance in addressing the "wind-whipped Kohala Ranch wildfire" on the Big Island, according to a statement released by the governor's office.

Starting in the early hours of Tuesday, the fire posed a threat to roughly 200 residences close to the rural Kohala Ranch community. This encompassed volunteer fire department facilities, local power transmission lines, and an AT&T cellular communications tower. At the time of requesting federal assistance, the fire had consumed over 600 acres of land and remained uncontained.

The combined efforts of firefighters engaged in battling the uncontrolled fires on both the Big Island and Maui have been hampered by the relentless winds, which have rendered aircraft support untenable for containment purposes.

Mitch Roth, the Mayor of the Big Island, emphasized the significance of safeguarding the local communities in the face of these wildfires. Approximately 400 homes in four different communities in the northern part of the island have been evacuated, with one house already sustaining roof damage from the fire's reach.

Fires also raging on the Big Island, prompting evacuations and power outages.

Hawaii County officials have reported the presence of two active brush fires in North and South Kohala on the Big Island. These fires have led to mandatory evacuations and disruptions in power supply for the affected areas.

Responding to the situation, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) granted approval for the state's request for a disaster declaration. This declaration aims to provide crucial assistance in addressing the "wind-whipped Kohala Ranch wildfire" on the Big Island, according to a statement released by the governor's office.

Starting in the early hours of Tuesday, the fire posed a threat to roughly 200 residences close to the rural Kohala Ranch community. This encompassed volunteer fire department facilities, local power transmission lines, and an AT&T cellular communications tower. At the time of requesting federal assistance, the fire had consumed over 600 acres of land and remained uncontained.

The combined efforts of firefighters engaged in battling the uncontrolled fires on both the Big Island and Maui have been hampered by the relentless winds, which have rendered aircraft support untenable for containment purposes.

Mitch Roth, the Mayor of the Big Island, emphasized the significance of safeguarding the local communities in the face of these wildfires. Approximately 400 homes in four different communities in the northern part of the island have been evacuated, with one house already sustaining roof damage from the fire's reach.