Latest Fire Recovery News

Today, the County of Maui filed a lawsuit against Maui Electric Company, Hawaiian Electric Company, Hawaiʻi Electric Light Company and Hawaiian Electric Industries for civil damages allegedly caused to the County’s public property and resources as a result of recent Maui fires, including fires in Lahaina and Kula.

Maui Wildfire Disaster updates for Aug. 24 are posted HERE. Today, crews are conducting an underwater search of a four mile stretch of shoreline from Puamana Beach Park to Wahikuli Wayside Park, looking for human remains associated with the Aug. 8 wildfire in Lahaina. Six more people have been identified out of the 115 confirmed dead; and more than 1,000 remain unaccounted for. The state Department of Education has identified temporary school sites in Central and South Maui for displaced students who had been enrolled at one of four public schools in Lahaina.

The US Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday began work to remove and dispose of hazardous waste from properties affected by the wildfires in Kula. Hazardous waste removal efforts in the Lahaina disaster area will start after search and rescue responders allow EPA crews to enter the area.

Maui police on Wednesday evening confirmed the identity of six more individuals as victims of the Lahaina wildfire disaster.

Students already re-enrolled at other schools or in distance learning are unaffected. Family and community meeting scheduled for Aug. 30.

Underwater search efforts for human remains that began last Saturday, continued today in near-shore waters near the Lahaina Small Boat Harbor and along the Front Street breakwater. 

Maui police are now confirming a report of a Lahaina family who had located their son’s remains within their residence and brought him to a nearby police station.

The Napili Plaza emergency distribution center for Lahaina fire survivors started organically with a group of retired and current firefighters who lived in the area wanting to do something.

Schatz expressed gratitude for the presidential visit, but is calling on the federal government to take additional actions including the release of more federal funds, support for expanded financial assistance, unemployment benefits, air and water safety, and help with making the FEMA assistance application process easier for those in need.

Maui Wildfire Disaster updates for Aug. 23 are posted HERE. Today, consolidation is underway at county-run distribution supply sites. The phased reopening of King Kekaulike High School is underway. Eight more people have been identified out of the 115 confirmed dead; and more than 1,000 remain unaccounted for. A second mobile substation has been energized in Lahaina, with 1,800 still without power.

Two weeks after the fast moving fire burned down much of Lahaina, the death toll is at 115; the remains that have been identified is at 43; and the number of “unaccounted for” is between 1,000 and 1,100, according to officials.

Staff at all four public schools in Lahaina will remain on paid administrative leave through Friday, Aug. 25 as clean up and safety assessments continue at Princess Nāhi‘ena‘ena Elementary, Lahaina Intermediate and Lahainaluna High.

County and federal officials joined in discussing the process involved in accounting for individuals who have been reporting missing, as well as the process involved in identifying remains recovered in the aftermath of the Lahaina wildfire disaster. *View the full press conference at our Maui Now Facebook page.

Dozens of wellness providers, such as massage therapists and counselors, have volunteered their services for a free community pop-up clinic this Friday, Aug. 25, and Saturday, Aug. 26. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day at the parking lot outside of Maui Ocean Center. The two-day clinic will be followed by free admission to Maui Ocean Center for kamaʻāina from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entry at 4 p.m.) this Sunday, Aug. 27.

Heavy rainfall after a wildfire can greatly increase the risks of other dangers such as flash floods, debris flows, landslides and rockfalls. DOH reminds the public to avoid storm drainage and natural drainage channels due to rapid flowing waters.

The number of missing and unaccounted for individuals on Maui has been narrowed from the thousands of names first compiled in the wake of the deadly Lahaina fire on August 8. According to Mayor Bissen,the list of missing persons still unaccounted for has been narrowed to 850 individuals.  

In the aftermath of the catastrophic wildfires that swept through Maui, a community-driven collaboration between Pacific Impact Zone, SMX, and the Maui Tech Hui worked to rapidly deploy satellite internet connectivity at key locations in West Maui.

View photo galleries of the presidential visit to Lahaina Maui. President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden visited Maui on Monday to assess the damage of the wildfire disaster area in Lahaina and meet with survivors and first responders who were impacted by the fires.

Maui Wildfire Disaster updates for Aug. 22 are posted HERE.

Maui Economic Opportunity’s Maui Fires Relief Transition Housing program today was put on hold after committing all funds received to housing those displaced by the wildfires. The program matched those displaced by the fires to available rental units for up to six months.