Maui Fires are Deadliest in US Since 1918
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Over 100 people are confirmed dead after wildfires devastated the village of Lahaina on the Hawaiian island of Maui.
Why So Deadly? The fires are the deadliest in the U.S. since 1918. Strong winds and months of drought reportedly helped the fires move especially quickly, and many local emergency sirens failed or weren't triggered, meaning the fires likely caught many residents off guard.
What's Next? Maui's police chief said Saturday that only 3% of the search area had been covered, and local officials are warning residents against returning too soon, as structures may be unstable and toxins likely remain. The fires caused an estimated $6 billion worth of damage, including over 2,000 buildings damaged or destroyed. Officials haven't yet announced whether they'll forgo tax revenue on properties that no longer exist; one source estimated that destroyed properties will amount to at least $40 million in lost tax revenue. One Hawaiian couple is suing Hawaiian Electric Industries, saying they "inexcusably kept their power lines energized during forecasted high fire danger conditions."
How the Media Covered It: The recovery and toll were a top story across the spectrum Monday, especially from left- and center-rated sources. Left-rated outlets were more likely to mention potential climate change angles in their coverage.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Right
Death toll reaches 93 in deadliest wildfire in over 100 years
The death toll in Hawaii due to wildfires is continuing to climb, with Gov. Josh Green (D-HI) saying that search and recovery operations are likely to discover more remains on Maui.
Maui County announced on Sunday that 93 people have died from the wildfires, which began overnight on Aug. 8. The number of fatalities makes the wildfires, which have devastated forests and towns, the deadliest in over 100 years.
Two people among the 93 dead have been identified, but their names have not been disclosed. Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said during a news conference on Saturday...
From the Center
As residents return to Lahaina, Health Department urges caution
The state Department of Health is urging caution for residents and business owners who are being allowed to return to their properties in the Lahaina area.
Debris and unstable structures as well as ash left behind by the fire are creating hazards, and the DOH recommends the following tips for those returning to the area:
Keep children away. Children should not help with cleanup efforts and should not play in areas with ash or debris.
Protect yourself. People should wear protective face masks, goggles, gloves, long sleeves, pants, socks and...
From the Left
Hawaii fires: death toll stands at 96 as hundreds remain missing
The death toll from the Maui wildfires stood at 96 on Monday, the worst recorded in the US in more than 100 years.
Officials said the number of dead could grow. Hundreds remained missing. Firefighters battled flare-ups as searches of the destroyed town of Lahaina continued.
“I do expect the numbers to rise,” the governor of Hawaii, Josh Green, told reporters.
Lahaina has now seen the largest number of deaths from a wildfire in the US since 1918, when 453 people were killed in the Cloquet fire in Minnesota and Wisconsin, according to...
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