An update on the Maui wildfires

The death toll from the wildfire that razed the historic city of Lahaina, Hawaii, climbed to 93 over the weekend. This makes it the US’ deadliest fire since 1918.

An estimated ~2,200 structures have been destroyed (~80% of those residential) so far, and more than 2,100 acres burned.

🤔🔥 What caused the fire?... It’s still officially undetermined (though many are speculating about downed power lines). 

But once started, the fire spread – fast. Winds, combined with dry conditions and extra-flammable nonnative grasses and shrubs, made the blaze nearly impossible to contain in its earlier stages, per officials.

• The Big Island experienced maximum winds of 87 MPH last Tuesday, the day the fire started, then 67 MPH on Wednesday.

😬 Looking ahead… As of Sunday morning the fire was mostly contained, but its death toll should continue to rise. Hundreds are still missing, and crews with cadaver dogs had covered just 3% of the search area as of Saturday, per Maui’s police chief.

📸 Big picture: At least two other fires are burning in Maui, though none besides the Lahaina fire have caused any deaths so far. The collective economic damage is severe, however. Officials estimate rebuilding Maui will cost an estimated $5.5 billion.