Additional fire rages in Maui, causes temporary evacuation as hundreds remain unaccounted for
Jenny Goldsberry
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A new brush fire was reported in Maui, Hawaii Friday wrecking havoc briefly before firefighters could reach it.
The Anapuni area in Maui was evacuated when the brush caught fire and began spreading. By the evening some hours later, the evacuation order was lifted as the fire was 85% contained. It has burned seven acres so far.
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As for the ongoing fires in other areas, three remain, namely in Olinda which is 85% contained and has burned an estimated 1,081 acres, the Kula firewhich is 90% contained after burning 202 acres, and the Lahaina fire which is 90% contained and burned 2,170 acres. Two fires have been extinguished.
Maui’s death toll remains at 115. According to the Maui Police Department, 40 victims have been identified so far and their families notified, while 8 other victims have been identified but their families have not been contacted.
The county is soliciting the help of locals to identify 388 individuals who have been reported as missing. Their names were compiled by the FBI and deemed validated if the first and last name of the unaccounted individual was reported.
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As of Saturday, 99% of the Lahaina area has been searched.
There were 82 active fires across 16 states as of Saturday. These active fires have burned a total 638,633 acres, which when combined with all acreage burned since the beginning of the year, is a record low since 2000.