Why is the Hawaiian wildfire so fierce?, Lost power and communication, approximately 1000 people lost, remains | wildfire | Mount Hawaii

As of August 10th local time, the Hawaiian wildfires have resulted in 53 deaths and approximately 1000 people missing.

According to the latest news from the British Broadcasting Corporation, the police chief of Maui County, Hawaii, Peltier, stated at a press conference just concluded on August 10th local time that the police are currently unclear about the number of people lost in the Hawaiian wildfire, and he believes that at least about 1000 people are still missing.

"This does not mean a significant number of deaths," Peltier added. "Due to the interruption of power and communication lines on the island, finding people is particularly difficult. Many people may be in shelters or simply unable to be reached."

According to official sources, the number of fatalities in this wildfire has reached 53. Hawaii Governor Josh Green said search and rescue efforts are still ongoing, and the death toll may continue to rise. Ed Sniffen from the Hawaii Department of Transportation stated that the state has opened five evacuation shelters, and at least 4000 tourists are still trying to leave the western part of Maui Island.

Clay Tranicht, a tropical fire researcher at the University of Hawaii, Manoa, said that this is the deadliest wildfire in Hawaii to date. According to data from the California Fire Department, the fire in Maui County has become the second deadliest fire in the United States in the past 100 years, second only to the Camp fire that caused 85 deaths in November 2018. What factors are causing the Maui County fire to be so severe that Hawaii is in an unprecedented crisis?

Out of control wildfire

According to a report by CNN on August 10th, the weekly drought monitoring report released on the same day in the United States showed that the drought in Hawaii has intensified in the past week, leading to the spread of fires. The severe drought level in Maui County has increased from 5% last week to 16%, while the moderate drought level in Hawaii has increased from 6% to 14%.

Scientists say that as global temperatures rise, droughts will become more severe: an increase in temperature will increase the amount of water that the atmosphere can absorb, causing the surface to dry out. According to the fourth National Climate Assessment released by the United States in 2018, drought conditions in Hawaii and other Pacific islands are becoming increasingly extreme and widespread. The report points out that over time, rainfall in Hawaii has generally decreased and the number of consecutive drought days has increased.

The dry land and vegetation provide fuel for the wildfires, coupled with strong winds, which can quickly spread to communities and cause fatal consequences. Jennifer Malone, a researcher at Yale University's School of Environment, said that human induced climate change is exacerbating extreme weather. "The combination of abundant fuel, high temperatures, drought, and strong winds is the perfect recipe for the wildfires in Maui County to spiral out of control."

Where do the strong winds in Hawaii come from? The National Weather Service of the United States pointed out that Hurricane Dora, a Category 4 hurricane, was raging in southern Hawaii with winds of 225 kilometers per hour, while a strong high-pressure system remained in the north. The two forces combined to produce "extremely destructive winds.". The meteorological bureau stated that strong winds combined with low humidity in the local area have caused dangerous weather conditions that are prone to fires, and this weather condition persisted until the afternoon of August 9th.

Hawaii's Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke called the wildfires in Maui County "unprecedented.". She said, "The problem is that this kind of wind dries and warms up as it descends along the mountains, causing the local environment to be very dry." Climatologist and geographer Abby Fraser from Clark University in Massachusetts, USA, pointed out that the problem of wildfires in Hawaii is more severe than many people realize, as fuel accumulates during the rainy season and then dries up during the dry season. She said, "When dry fuel, strong winds, and low humidity environments are combined, we will encounter extremely dangerous fire weather."

In addition to drought and strong winds, changes in land use have also played a role in boosting the fire. Tranicht stated that currently, invasive species cover nearly a quarter of Hawaii's total land area, while invasive species such as grass and shrubs are highly flammable during the dry season. In addition, Hawaii has lost large plantations and pastures in recent years, and flammable grasslands have replaced fallow land.

It is worth noting that as an island chain in the Pacific, Hawaii's geographical location and limited firefighting resources make firefighting work more complex. It is reported that the staff of Hawaii's Department of Forestry and Wildlife are mainly natural resource managers, forest managers, biologists, and technicians, rather than full-time field firefighters. Tranicht stated that in 2021, the second largest fire in the history of the state occurred in the western part of Maui County, with less than 300 firefighters involved in firefighting.

The mountain fire devours a century old historic town

According to a report by CNN on August 10th, authorities in Maui County stated in a statement that the wildfire currently raging on Maui Island has caused at least 53 deaths, as confirmed by the fire department. According to Hawaii Governor Josh Green, most of the area in the western town of La Haina on Maui has been destroyed by wildfires, causing hundreds of families to be displaced and more than 270 buildings to be affected by the fire.

La Haina is located at the western end of Maui Island and is a tourist and economic center with a population of 12000. It is also one of the areas most severely damaged in this fire. It is the former capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii, once deeply loved by kings and queens, and renowned for its whaling village. For over 60 years, its historic and cultural district has been a national historical landmark of the United States, with its long history preserved in the historical relics and landmarks on the island.

It is regrettable that a 150 year old banyan tree standing on the island was burnt in this wildfire, making it one of the largest and most legendary banyan trees in the United States. Satellite images and videos show that the fire left almost no green leaves on this precious banyan tree. According to reports, the tree was introduced from India in 1873 and planted in front of the Lahore Court building, adjacent to Lahore Port. According to the Hawaii Tourism Board, this tree, which stands over 20 meters tall, provides shade and shade for the entire neighborhood, while its huge branches and hanging vines provide a great place for generations of locals and tourists to cool off.

According to satellite comparison images before and after the wildfire, many important historical sites in Lahaina town were destroyed by the fire, including several landmark buildings dating back to the 19th century.

On August 8th, a photo from the Maoi County News Agency showed that the fire engulfed the hall of the historic Waiola Church and the nearby Hongwanji Missionary Church along Winnie Street. In May of this year, the Waiola Church just held a commemorative event to celebrate its 200th anniversary. According to the official account of the Waiola Church, this is the resting place of early members of the royal family of the Kingdom of Hawaii.

On August 9th, Theo Morrison, Executive Director of the La Haina Restoration Foundation, confirmed to CNN that the Baldwin Family Museum - believed to be the oldest house in Maui County - had also been reduced to ashes in the fire. Baldwin's former residence was built in the 1830s and was originally a single story building with four rooms, providing direct access to the landing point of La Haina, where whaling ships would dock. The foundation stated that after its first owner, Reverend Ephraim Spalding, left the island due to illness, it was the home of Reverend Dwight Baldwin, a missionary and doctor, and his family.

In addition, the Hexing Temple Museum and the La Haina Heritage Museum located in the Chinese immigrant community are also widely popular.