The relentless fury of wildfires, driven by the ferocious winds of Hurricane Dora, is leaving a trail of destruction across Hawaii, triggering urgent evacuations, daring rescues, and necessitating school closures. In response to the escalating crisis, the acting governor, Sylvia Luke, has issued an emergency proclamation for Maui and Hawaii counties, aiming to marshal resources and support for the affected regions.
Although the hurricane’s eye remains situated far to the south of the islands, its potent winds continue to buffet the state, warned Luke in a released statement. The wildfires, born from these gales, have prompted the acting governor to activate the Hawaii National Guard to bolster emergency responders in their efforts to safeguard residents.
A red flag warning from the National Weather Service blankets the leeward sectors of all Hawaiian Islands, underscoring the grave fire danger.
As of Wednesday morning, there have been no reported fatalities, according to the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, but communication challenges persist across the island. Certain areas of West Maui are grappling with 911 outages, exacerbating the crisis.
The infernos have scorched over 1,800 acres across Maui and the Big Island as of Tuesday night. The situation on Maui remains highly volatile, with fast-moving blazes demanding constant attention.
Amid the turmoil, evacuations were enacted near two wildfire fronts on Maui—namely, the Lahaina and Upcountry Maui fires. County officials reported the destruction of multiple structures and the initiation of multiple evacuations, while firefighting units raced to combat the rapidly advancing flames. The intense winds, a product of Hurricane Dora’s distant passage, have been fueling the blaze in West Maui.
The emergency proclamation extended the authority of the director of the state’s Emergency Management Agency and the administrator of Emergency Management, allowing for swift and appropriate action to be taken.
Notable agencies such as the U.S. Coast Guard have also joined the emergency response, conducting heroic rescue operations. The Coast Guard’s 45-foot Response Boat Medium crew successfully saved 12 individuals from the waters off Lahaina, where they had reportedly jumped to escape the encroaching flames.
In response to the dire situation, the Coast Guard’s Cutter Kimball was dispatched to enhance ongoing efforts. Although the Maui Airport has not been officially closed, disruptions have arisen due to the smoke and fire hazards. Travelers are advised to consult their airlines for real-time flight status updates.
Given prevailing weather conditions—strong east winds reaching speeds of 30 to 45 mph, gusts of up to 60 mph, and humidity levels ranging from 35% to 45% through Wednesday afternoon—any new fires are at high risk of rapid propagation. The National Weather Service emphasized the potential for extreme fire behavior, attributed to the combination of robust winds, low humidity, and elevated temperatures.
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Anticipated reductions in wind speeds on Wednesday and Thursday, coupled with the eastward movement of the high-pressure center and Hurricane Dora, are expected to gradually alleviate the situation. However, the existing conjunction of dry fuels, forceful easterly winds, and diminished humidity remains a recipe for critical fire weather conditions throughout the day.
