Recovery, firefighting efforts continue on Maui
State and Maui County crews, with the help of federal resources on the ground and more on the way, simultaneously continued the grim task of recovering victims of Tuesday’s wildfires while also battling to contain and extinguish several blazes that continued to burn today.
As of this morning, the official death toll from the massive fires that destroyed Lahaina stood at 55 but Gov. Josh Green, Maui Mayor Richard Bissen Jr. and other officials predict that number will climb significantly. Green estimated Thursday that about 1,700 homes and buildings were destroyed or heavily damaged, and the ultimate cost in lost property will be in “the billions of dollars.”
President Biden, who issued a presidential disaster declaration Thursday to fast-track federal aid and resources for the recovery effort, spoke with Green by phone today.
