At least 67 individuals have lost their lives in wildfires on Maui, with residents reportedly receiving little warning before they had to run for their lives. Despite Hawaii boasting what the state describes as the world’s largest integrated outdoor all-hazard public safety warning system, there is no record of warning sirens sounding before the fires.
Survivors report they did not hear sirens or receive any warning that gave them enough time to prepare. Many only realized they were in danger when they saw flames or heard explosions nearby. Emergency alerts were sent to mobile phones, televisions, and radio stations, but widespread power and cellular outages may have significantly limited their reach.
Thomas Leonard, a 70-year-old retired mailman, didn’t learn about the fire until he smelled smoke. With both power and cellphone service having gone out earlier, real-time information about the impending danger was unavailable. Leonard was eventually led to safety by firefighters after seeking refuge behind a seawall for hours.
Fueled by a dry summer and strong winds from a passing hurricane, at least three wildfires erupted on Maui this week. The most severe one decimated the historic town of Lahaina, reducing it to gray, ashen rubble.
Hawaii Emergency Management Agency spokesperson Adam Weintraub confirmed that their records do not indicate that Maui’s warning sirens were triggered on the day the Lahaina fire began. Maui Fire Department Chief Brad Ventura added that the fire moved too quickly to get messages to the emergency management agencies responsible for alerts.
The disaster is the deadliest US wildfire since the 2018 Camp Fire in California, which killed at least 85 people. This tragic event underlines the crucial importance of effective emergency alert systems, the challenges of battling wildfires, and the devastating impact of such disasters on communities.