Amidst the ongoing wildfires in Maui, NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) steps in as a reliable tool, utilizing real-time data from satellite imagery to assist in tracking the progression of the fires.

Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Hawaiʻi and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by wildfires beginning on Aug. 8, 2023, and continuing. The President’s action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in Maui County.

As firefighting efforts continue, two additional fatalities have been confirmed this evening amid the active Lahaina fire. This brings the death toll to 55 people. FEMA assistance is available:  If you are impacted by the fires in Hawaiʻi, visit DisasterAssistance.gov, call 800-621-FEMA (3362) or download the FEMA App for more information on available resources.

A devastating wildfire sparked by gusty winds from a passing hurricane, left Maui’s Lahaina Town in an unrecognizable state. The popular tourist destination in the historic district of West Maui was described in media reports as being “flattened by fire” with businesses gutted and cars abandoned, leaving charred trees along a now shadeless and shambled path. Remaining is an ashy imprint of a moment in time, captured in these photos of what is now a present day reality.

“Today, we offer our condolences and aloha to the ʻohana of those who have lost their lives, and those who have lost their homes and livelihoods to the wildfires on Maui. We share our aloha with our neighbors on Maui as we face devastation in Lahaina and around the island…”

Many residents and visitors spent hours and even overnight in their cars waiting for Honoapi’ilani Highway to reopen for non-emergency responders.

The Central Pacific Bank Foundation is donating $50,000 to the Hawaiʻi Red Cross to help victims of the devastating fires on Maui.

Firefighting efforts continue at the in Lahaina, Pūlehu/Kīhei and Upcountry areas. The photos above are from the Pūlehu/Kīhei fire and were taken from the corner of Olukai and Hoalike Street in Kīhei on Wednesday afternoon.

Tuesday evening, the 45-foot Response Boat Medium crew arrived on scene and rescued 14 survivors from the Lahaina Harbor Breakwall with all survivors reported to be in stable condition.

Hawaiian Airlines is extending its operations today with three additional late-night flights to Honolulu from Kahului to help evacuate travelers affected by brush fires on Maui. The new flights were timed to meet travelers expected to arrive at Kahului via Maui County buses. Flights are scheduled to depart Kahului starting at 11:10 p.m. today through 2 a.m. tomorrow. Hawaiian earlier today added six extra flights between Honolulu and Kahului to accommodate departures out of Maui, as well as support emergency response efforts. Currently, four extra Kahului-Honolulu flights have been added for tomorrow, Aug. 10.  

A mass bus evacuation for visitors will be staged at Sheraton Maui Resort in Kāʻanapali this afternoon and take visitors directly to Kahului Airport. Five County of Maui buses, each with a capacity of 49 people, and five Polynesian Adventure Tours buses, each with a capacity of 50, will provide the transportation, with the first wave of buses scheduled for around 4 p.m.

The losses from the Lahaina fire include Front Street’s iconic banyan tree, a fishpond and the Na ‘Aikane o Maui Cultural Center.

As the Maui wildfires continue to impact the community, there are several ways you can contribute to the relief efforts. Here’s how you can make a difference.

Maui Memorial Medical Center has been treating burn, smoke inhalation, and other fire-related injuries as a result of the Maui fires since last night. As of Wednesday afternoon, all patients have been cared for; five have been admitted, including two for critical injuries. Additionally, since last night, seven patients have been transferred to Oʻahu for specialty services, including some fire-related injuries. All other patients have been treated and released.

Due to the fires, some Hawaiian Telcom customers on Maui are experiencing intermittent phone and internet service outages. Affected areas include Lahaina, Nāpili, Kāʻanapali, Kula, and Makawao.

Tourist Sarah Adams said she could not “morally or ethically” stay on Maui any longer knowing that she would be using resources that were needed by residents.

More than 140 people were evacuated on Tuesday from the Westside Center shelter operated by Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Centers. Of those evacuated, over 25 were taken by KHAKO staff to the Wailuku shelter for emergency housing. 

The wildfires on Maui have resulted in various business and facility closures, as well as event cancellations. Find our comprehensive list HERE, which is updated regularly.

Update: 5:33 p.m., Aug. 9, 2023. Honoapiʻilani Highway is open for South Bound Traffic ONLY exiting Lahaina. Honoapiʻilani Highways is open from Kāʻanapali Parkway, up Keawe and onto the Lahaina bypass exiting Lahaina.

HIDOE’s four public school campuses in Lāhainā will remain shut down for an additional week, through Friday, Aug. 18.