Wildfires fueled by high winds have killed at least six people on Maui, caused widespread damage and forced evacuations of residents and tourists.

Maui Mayor Richard Bissen on Wednesday confirmed the six deaths and said most of the Lahaina side of the island was largely cut off to all but emergency personnel.

Damage was still being assessed as fires are still burning, but hundreds of buildings were “burned to the ground,” he said.

Civil Beat will provide updates on many aspects of the devastating fires on Maui as well as the Big Island, where more fires are burning. Read more stories in this section on Hawaii Fires.

4.40 p.m.

County Says Fires Are Not Under Control

None of the Maui fires are fully under control or contained, said Maui County’s Chief of Communications Mahina Martin at an update late Wednesday.

The wind is playing havoc with operations, Martin said, but emergency managers are hopeful that will change given a more favorable wind forecast. “What we’re finding with high wind is the embers do go a distance from the source,” she said.

Martin says the county is organizing buses to transport tourists to the airport from shelters.

The county has been working with DOT and airlines to organize “multiple” empty planes to fly to Maui to take them off the island, most likely to Oahu. “We’re aiming for this afternoon,” Martin said.

4.30 p.m.

Most Schools To Stay Closed Through Friday

All Maui schools, with the exception of Hana Elementary and High School, will be closed through Friday, Aug. 11 due to the wildfire conditions, Hawaii’s Department of Education announced. The island’s district office will also be closed.

The department said it was waiting to gain access to Lahaina to assess damage shown in aerial photographs to the King Kamehameha III Elementary campus on Front Street.

3:55 p.m.

The Feds Arrive As Search And Rescue Gets Going

The Civil Air Patrol and the Maui Fire Department flew over areas hit by the fires and determined that more than 271 structures have been impacted, according to a press release from Maui County.

About 100 Maui firefighters have been on duty around the clock and the county asked for an additional 20 firefighters from Honolulu along with an incident management team.

Four helicopters are making water drops in Lahaina. Two Chinooks, along with four Windward Aviation helicopters, have been battling all three fires with water drops. Three additional helicopters from the Coast Guard and Navy were conducting search and rescue along the West Maui coastline, the press release said.

A federal team arrived on Maui and is on the ground in Lahaina to assist with search and rescue efforts there.

As of Wednesday afternoon, according to the press release, the Maui Fire Department reported no significant changes for the Lahaina, Upcountry and Pulehu fires. There are no new evacuations. There are no containment numbers at this time, the county said.

3:45 p.m.

How To Avoid Scams When Donating To Maui Wildfire Victims

The state Attorney General’s office is urging residents to use caution when choosing where to send their money and donations.

“I know that the people of Hawaii will come to the aid of our families, neighbors and communities,” says Attorney General Lopez. “We are already seeing various fundraising efforts being promoted on social media platforms and online. In moments of crisis, we all must be extra vigilant against bad actors who try to take advantage of people’s goodwill.”

Before making a donation, the AG advised in a news release Wednesday to keep following tips in mind:

• Donate to trusted, well-known charities. Beware of scammers who create fake charities during natural disasters. Always verify a charity’s legitimacy through its official website. If someone is fundraising on behalf of a charity you are familiar with, the best practice is to donate directly to that charity.

• Verify that the charity is legitimate. Any charity that solicits donation in Hawaii must be registered with the Department of the Attorney General, and its status can be verified here. There are also a number of independent online sources you can use to verify that a charity is legitimate, including the following:

• Stay away from suspicious donation requests and be mindful of the following scammer’s tactics:
  • Rushing you into making a donation. Don’t let anyone rush you into making a donation. Take your time to do your research.  
  • Asking you to make a donation using cash or gift card. Most legitimate charities will accept credit card and check donations.  
  • Using names that sound a lot like the names of real charities. This is one reason it pays to do some research before giving.
  • Scammers make lots of vague and sentimental claims but give no specifics about how your donation will be used.

Donors with any questions or complaints about a scam charity can contact the Tax & Charities Division at 808-586-1480 or by sending an email to [email protected].  

3:40 p.m.

Red Flag Warning In Effect

A red flag warning is in effect for most leeward areas of the Hawaiian Islands.

That means critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.

East winds are currently 20 to 30 miles per hour with gusts up to 50 miles per hour. Humidity is forecast at 40 to 45% through Wednesday evening.

3:35 p.m.

Mental Health Services Available

The state Department of Health’s Maui Community Mental Health Center is offering crisis mental health services and expanded hours for those experiencing emotional distress due to the wildfires, a DOH release says.

For services, contact Maui CMHC at 808-984-2150 or email [email protected] or in person at 121 Mahalani Street in Wailuku. Clinic hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Clinic hours are expanded on Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. After hours, contact Hawaii CARES to speak to a local crisis counselor at 808-832-3100, 1-800-753-6879, or call/text/chat 988.

These services include mental health counseling, trauma processing, psychiatric services and resource guidance, the release says.

3:30 p.m.

Biden Offers Condolences — And Federal Assistance

President Joe Biden has ordered “all available federal assets” in Hawaii to help cope with the the wildfires on Maui.

That includes military assets with the deployment of the Hawaii National Guard, which has used Chinook helicopters to help with fire suppression and search and rescue efforts, according to a press release. The U.S. Coast Guard and the Navy’s 3rd Fleet are also helping with the response. Meanwhile, the Army is providing Black Hawk Helicopters to fight the fires on the Big Island, the White House said.

Biden said he and first lady Jill Biden “send our deepest condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones in the wildfires in Maui, and our prayers are with those who have seen their homes, businesses, and communities destroyed.”

The president also urged “all residents to continue to follow evacuation orders, listen to the instructions of first responders and officials, and stay alert.”

2:40 p.m.

Maui Strong Fund Is Activated

The Hawaii Community Foundation has activated its Maui Strong Fund with $1 million in commitments to support residents affected by the Maui wildfires.

Micah Kane, CEO and President of HCF, said in a press release Wednesday that the organization is collaborating with the Maui County mayor, state leaders and nonprofits to provide support.

“The Maui Strong Fund will provide resources that can be deployed quickly, with a focus on relief and recovery for the devastating wildfires that are still taking place on Maui,” he said.

Funding will support evolving needs, including shelter, food, financial assistance and other services.

The effort was anchored by a $500,000 contribution from the Omidyar Ohana Fund at HCF, in addition to $170,000 from existing funds in the Maui Strong Fund, $100,000 from the Goodfellow Bros., $50,000 from Hawaii Life, $25,000 from the Cooke Foundation, $25,000 from Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design, a center of the Doris Duke Foundation, and anonymous donors, according to the release.

HCF will not be collecting a fee for donations to the Maui Strong Fund. 100% of the funds will be distributed for community needs.

Nonprofit organizations seeking funding should email request to [email protected].

To contribute to the fund, visit the HCF information page here.

2:30 p.m.

Hawaiian Telcom Updates Service Outages

Hawaiian Telcom says that its customers in areas including Lahaina, Napili, Kaanapali, Kula, and Makawao are still experiencing intermittent phone and internet outages.

The 911 system is operational although customers in areas with outages may not be able to access services. Texting 911 may be an option if phone calls are unsuccessful.

The utility company advises caution with downed power lines and fallen utility poles or cables or by contacting the customer support team, please call (808) 643-6111 or visit hawaiiantel.com/supportform.

2:15 p.m.

These Maps Show Where The Active Fires Are In Hawaii

The Fire Information for Resource Management System US/Canada provides maps of wildfire activity. It’s a joint effort by NASA and the USDA Forest Service.

Here are FIRMS maps of Maui and Hawaii that show the latest wildfire activity as of Wednesday afternoon in Upcountry and Lahaina on Maui and in Kohala on the Big Island.

2 p.m.

Civil Beat Reporter’s Home Burns Down

Marina Riker, our Maui reporter, says she and her family and pets are safe but the home she was renting in Kula burned down overnight.

“We lost all of our belongings. But we’re thankful that’s just stuff,” she said Wednesday. “In the long term all that matters is that our loved ones are together and out of harm’s way.”

1:20 p.m.

Hotels Are Working On ‘A Lot Of Logistics’

The Maui wildfire’s impact on the island’s hotels and resorts was extending far beyond Lahaina and nearby Kaanapali by late morning.

The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, north of Lahaina, for instance, was safe, but cut off from help, with no phone service and electricity supplied by generators, said Jerry Gibson, president of the Hawaii Hotel Association.

The hotel’s 466 rooms and 107 suites were full, Gibson said.

But fuel and food were running low. “They’re like an island up there,” Gibson said.

The property had only enough diesel fuel to keep electricity going for about six hours. The challenge was how to get a truckload of diesel fuel to the property when the normal routes were surrounded by fire.

“We’re working on a lot of logistics right now,” Gibson said.

1:15 p.m.

Drop Off Food, Supplies And other Donations

Maui’s War Memorial Complex is open Wednesday and Thursday as a drop-off center for donations aimed to help fire evacuees on Maui.

Non-perishable food, bottled water, hygiene items and blankets are being accepted, according to a Maui County press release.

Fire stations are unable to accept donations for shelters.

More than 2,100 people were housed in four emergency shelters Tuesday night as crews battled fires in Lahaina, Pulehu and Upcountry. Shelters were set up at Maui Prepartory Academy in Napili, Maui High School in Kahului, War Memorial Center and Hannibal Tavares Community Center in Pukalani.

12 p.m.

Coast Guard And Charter Rescues

Trilogy Excursions, a boat charter company, has been assisting the U.S. Coast Guard in rescue efforts since Tuesday night. Denver Coon of the charter business says they picked up three people from the water near Lahaina, but there were about 50 that were stranded out in the water.

They were picked up by about 3 a.m.

“We left at 6 a.m. and there were still lots of buildings left on fire,” Coon said.

He said that people were still being rescued by U.S. Coast Guard off the coast, before noon.

Coon said he was transporting Hawaiian Electric workers from Lanai to Maui to assist in restoring power.

“There’s still a brush fire north of Lahaina that is still not under control,” he said.

Trilogy Excursions lost one of its boats to the fire in Lahaina Harbor, along with an office and restaurant, among other things, Coon said.

Federal Aid Sought

Hawaii’s congressional delegation called for prompt federal assistance to help the state cope with widespread damage from wildfires on Maui and the Big Island.

U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono joined U.S. Reps. Ed Case and Jill Tokuda in urging President Joe Biden to expedite all available federal resources available.

“Communities in both counties will need substantial support to recover from fires that are devastating some of the State’s most iconic cultural and economic centers,” the delegation wrote in their letter to Biden.

Lahaina Devastated

Dramatic video from witnesses captured flames tearing through the historic town of Lahaina.

Food Assistance

The Salvation Army is expanding a meal service for people in emergency shelters on Maui. It also called on “large volume meal donations” from local restaurants and certified kitchens.

“During emergencies, the best way the public can help is to provide monetary donations which allows the delivery of the exact relief supplies a community needs,” said Victor Leonardi of the Salvation Army Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division.

Donations may be made online at Hawaii.SalvationArmy.org, it said.

Civil Beat’s coverage of Maui County is supported in part by a grant from the Nuestro Futuro Foundation.