Originally published August 23, 2023 10:35 am PDT
In a devastating turn of events, the residents of a West Maui neighborhood found themselves trapped by an aggressive fire, with their main route to safety being blocked.
As flames rapidly encroached upon the community, many tried to flee via the sole paved route available, leading to Highway 30.
Yet, much to their dismay, they were met with barricades set up by Maui authorities preventing their exit, according to a report from The Associated Press.
While some residents managed to find alternative paths to safety—one family reached a nearby town just 48 minutes after circumventing the blockade and another utilized a 4-wheel-drive vehicle to navigate a dirt road—others weren’t as fortunate.
A harrowing account comes from a resident who scaled an uphill dirt path, witnessing the devastation below as Lahaina was consumed by flames.
This individual braved the inferno, rescuing trapped survivors amidst the destruction.
However, the scene on the ground painted a heart-wrenching picture. “I could see from the bypass that people were stuck on the balconies, so I went down and checked it out,” recounted Kekoa Lansford, a local who ventured multiple times into the blaze.
The reality he faced was chilling: “And I could see that people were on fire, that the fire was just being stoked by the wind, and being pushed toward the homes.”
The tragedy wasn’t solely the result of the flames themselves.
A combination of factors exacerbated the situation.
The area had recently experienced a flash drought, leaving behind easily combustible material.
Adding to the volatile situation, Hurricane Dora, despite being approximately 500 miles south of the Hawaii island chain, ushered in fierce winds that led to at least 30 power poles being knocked down in West Maui.
Disturbingly, a video captured by a Lahaina inhabitant appears to show the ignition point, where a fallen power line lit up the parched grass, potentially marking the inception of the expansive blaze.
Another concerning revelation was the revelation that Hawaiian Electric did not have protocols to shut down the grid in such circumstances—a typical measure in other states prone to wildfires.
Additionally, in the midst of the catastrophe, local authorities chose not to utilize the extensive siren system available to them to prompt the residents of Lahaina to evacuate.
Addressing the incident during a press briefing, Maui Police Chief John Pelletier acknowledged that officers did take proactive measures by patrolling neighborhoods, “knocking on doors and using loudspeakers to tell people to leave.”
However, he did not provide specifics about the locations and timing of these initiatives.
