Tonight in Maui, you can add a sense of abandonment to the cascade of emotions sweeping over devastated communities. As survivors and residents learn more about warning sirens that never sounded, evacuations that never came, hydrants that nearly ran dry, and what may have been underestimations of the risk the island faced that day, anger is rising over why more wasn’t done to protect communities from the rampaging fire.
The Mounting Frustrations
Now, after days of uncertainty about where they will live, so many are just anxious to get home to whatever home looks like. The mounting frustrations are compounded by a steadily climbing number of those lost forever. A number that began this day at 96 but, as we are reminded grimly, each day will and does go higher.
The Deadliest Wildfire in Our Nation’s History
Reporter: Tonight, the deadliest wildfire in our nation’s history is under investigation, and the questions are mounting. The horror in Lahaina spread through streets, incinerated cars, and forced people to flee into the ocean.
“NO, NO, NO, NO, NO! NOT LIKE THIS.”
Anger is growing because so many were forced to make life or death decisions with no warning.
“NO, WE HAVE TO LEAVE! IT’S TRAGIC. IT PROBABLY ALL COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED OR MOST OF IT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.”
The Fire’s Beginning
A brush fire near Lahaina was first reported early Tuesday morning, and some evacuations were ordered. But Maui officials thought they had it under control, announcing 100% containment around 9:00 A.M., possibly giving residents a false sense of security. Only hours later, county officials said the fires flared back up, fueled by strong winds, burning the town in an out-of-control blaze that barreled toward the ocean.
Emergency Failures
Here’s what we do know: Emergency sirens were not activated according to Hawaii emergency officials. And firefighters called to the scene said some of the fire hydrants had low or even no water pressure.
“YOU RAN OUT OF WATER WITH THE NATION’S MOST DEADLIEST WILDFIRE?”
“YEAH. YEAH. IT WAS VERY DISHEARTENING.”
Personal Stories of Loss and Survival
Ina Koehler and Johnny Verona are firefighters from Lahaina that were there when the wildfire exploded. “PEOPLE RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES. PEOPLE BEING CARRIED OUT. PEOPLE BEING RESCUED. PEOPLE GETTING STUCK. POWER LINES WERE ALREADY DOWN BEFORE THE FIRE.”
They too lost everything. “YOU COULD JUST HEAR SO FAST THAT THIS IS ON FIRE, THIS IS ON FIRE, THIS IS — LIKE HOW IS THIS SPREADING SO FAST?”
As the fires burned, the people of Lahaina were surrounded. This video shows people jumping into their condo’s pool to escape the flames. “WE JUST KEPT HUDDLING IN DIFFERENT CORNERS, GETTING AWAY FROM FLYING DEBRIS, GETTING AWAY FROM FLAMES.”
“THE FACT THAT WE WEREN’T INCINERATED IS A MIRACLE.”
Recovery and the Future
The gut-wrenching search through the charred remains of Lahaina has only just begun. More than 1,000 residents are still unaccounted for as recovery crews with cadaver dogs go block by block, home by home. “IT IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS. THERE ARE STRUCTURES THAT ARE PERSONALLY STANDING THAT ENGINEERS HAVE TO CLEAR FIRST TO MAKE SURE IT’S SAFE FOR THE SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS
TO GO IN.”
And as if the tragedy of the wildfire wasn’t enough, Hawaii is now monitoring Hurricane Fernanda, heading toward the chain of islands. The chief of police in Maui is worried about it, but according to weather experts, it is forecast to weaken by the time it comes near Hawaii and is not expected to have strong winds.
A Community in Mourning
The people of Lahaina are left to process all they’ve lost. “YOU JUST HAVE TO LOOK TO THE LORD. YOU JUST TRUST IN THE END HE HAS A PURPOSE FOR US.” Talfa Samisani lost four family members to the fires. “WE WERE ALL TOGETHER. WE WERE ALL TOGETHER.”
The community, devastated and frustrated, is left to rebuild and heal, grappling with the reality of a tragedy that many believe could have been avoided. “IT’S TRAGIC. IT PROBABLY ALL COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED OR MOST OF IT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.”