The Hawaiian wildfires, specifically those in Maui, have killed at least 110 people. The conflagrations have destroyed over 2,200 buildings, and around 1,892 of these properties have been residential, according to Cable News Network.

The timeline of the Maui wildfires is extensive and this data is presented based on reports from the American Broadcasting Company News. Beginning on August 4, small fires sparked in Maui, Hawaii. This turned into a 30-acre brush fire that ended up being 90% contained by local firefighters. Four days later, around 30 utility poles in Maui were wiped out by strong winds and at least 12,400 civilians experienced power outages. On that same day (August 8), another wildfire ignited in Kula in Maui. Within 24 hours, the Kula fire had scorched 1,000 acres and pushed people to evacuate as over 540 buildings were exposed to the flames.

In addition, on August 8, the most dangerous and impactful fire of the Hawaiian fires erupted in Lahaina in Maui. Winds reached up to 80 miles per hour and ruined a power pole, marking the start of a subsequent three-acre fire. While this fire was contained by firefighters, the heavy winds prompted the fire to spark again. As the fire continued to spread throughout Lahaina, people began to self-evacuate in any way possible. More than 1,400 Lahaina residents were evacuated in total. There was congested traffic on the streets which only increased panic as people could not get out of the area. Once the fire met the shoreline, around 100 people noticed cars in the traffic catching fire, prompting them to jump into the ocean for their safety. The United States Coast Guard later helped rescue them from the ocean.

Annelise Cochran, one of the survivors of the wildfires who leaped into the nearby ocean, shared her near-death experience with the fires.

“Everybody stopped their cars. There was fire on both sides of the street that I was on, so it was closing in on us. That's when I think it really struck me that, ‘This is about to go really, really south for me and a lot of people.’ The cars started to explode very, very badly at that point. They went off one at a time, and that's when I think the fire got deadly for us, honestly. We were gasping for air and losing consciousness [after jumping into the ocean]. I feel blessed to be alive,” Cochran said.

While 110 people were found dead in Lahaina, the Federal Emergency Management Agency predicted that this number would only continue to increase as there were more searches orchestrated in buildings and cars. The wildfire damage in Hawaii was estimated to be $6 billion on August 12. However, the damage caused by the fires is still expanding as the aforementioned fire grows and additional fires in Kihei and Kaanapali erupted in Maui.

The wildfires in Maui are still spreading as of this writing. The fires are currently placed as the fifth-deadliest in the history of the United States, according to National Public Radio. People in Lahaina are facing unsafe water alerts and are using potable water tankers due to water contamination and pollution from the fires. The fires are also spreading harmful chemicals into the environment that could spread between bodies of water and affect more water outside of Lahaina. In addition to the burning of residences, many significant areas in Lahaina such as the Lahaina Historic District (a National Historic Landmark) experienced destruction from the fire. Much of the wildlife and plants were scorched in Maui, resulting in a loss of biodiversity.

The 2023 wildfires have devastated Maui and Hawaii as a whole, and I can only imagine how challenging it must be for residents to survive. As someone who has been evacuated due to wildfires, I empathize with the Hawaiians who are experiencing the fear, sadness, and uncertainty that often accompanies evacuation. My heart goes out to all of the brave civilians, firefighters, volunteers, government representatives, and others that are persevering and trying to extinguish the fires while saving lives, property, and the environment. If possible, please try to support the Hawaiians during these trying times in any way—whether it is through donating or simply reaching out to someone who has been affected by the fires to offer your kindness and support. If you are considering donating to the efforts in Hawaii, some credible organizations include the Hawaii Community Foundation, the American Red Cross, the Maui Food Bank, and the Aloha United Way Maui Relief Fund.

The 2023 Hawaiian wildfires burning palm trees. Image courtesy of American Oceans.