Hawaii Gov. Josh Green on Sunday said that global warming played a critical role in setting up the conditions for the Maui wildfire that destroyed a historic town and has so far resulted in the deaths of at least 93 people.
The official discussed the situation and referenced what happened in the centuries-old town of Lahaina when he appeared on MSNBC's "The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart." He described the widespread blaze as a "fire hurricane" with gusting 80 mph winds and a "1,000-degree heat" that created fire cyclones that went through buildings.
Hawaii Governor on Maui Wildfire
Green said everything in the town of Lahaina was burnt to the ground, and he called the area a "war zone" that was "completely destroyed." The governor also attributed the powerful winds from Hurricane Dora, a storm that passed through far to the south of the Island last week, and very dry drought conditions on Maui to the fast-moving blaze, as per Fox News.
He noted that roughly three or four fires were burning simultaneously when the fire jumped from one place to another. Green said the blaze got seeded very quickly due to the powerful gusts of winds. Then, the fire moved with a speed of roughly one mile per minute down through the community.
The Hawaii governor said the devastation was precisely the look a fire hurricane would have during global warming. He said the threat is "very real for us and everywhere" and urged people to do whatever they can to help stop and reverse its effects.
The fire in Lahaina is considered the deadliest wildfire in the United States in the last century. Now, officials are facing the challenge of identifying the remains that have so far been recovered because the victims' bodies were burned to ash and are falling apart in their hands.
Hawaii authorities have also urged tourists to avoid traveling to Maui as many hotels on the Island have prepared to take in evacuees and first responders. The region is now facing a long recovery from the massive wildfire, according to the Associated Press.
Destruction of Lahaina
The Hawaii Tourism Authority said that roughly 46,000 residents and visitors flew out of Kahului Airport in West Maui since the destruction in Lahaina became apparent on Wednesday.
The agency said on Saturday that the collective resources and attention of the federal, state, and county government, the West Maui community, and the travel industry must be focused on helping the recovery of residents who were forced out of their homes and businesses.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Sunday said that hundreds more National Guard members were expected to travel to Maui in the coming days. Green said that the personnel would help in protecting certain areas so that people can do their work at ground zero and open up the road to make it easier for everyone to travel around, said the Washington Post.
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