At least 80 people died during the inferno that swept through Lahaina, a centuries-old town on the west coast of Maui. As homes left standing were marked, residents who barely escaped with their lives returned home to tally their losses.
“Our main focus this day will be on people,” Governor Josh Green said Saturday, accompanied by representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA for its initials in English), under the charred branches of a dear old tree. Banana farm located on historic Front Street. Green said operations are currently focused on “loss of life.”
The fire burned hundreds of homes to the ground, forcing emergency workers to scramble for places to temporarily house those lucky enough to survive on Saturday. Communications remained difficult as 30 cell phone towers were still not working.
According to forecasts, the electricity supply will continue to be interrupted for at least several weeks in the western part of the island. For their part, the authorities warned that the death toll could rise as the search continues.
Those who managed to escape expressed their gratitude to be alive while mourning the death of those who were not so fortunate.
Retired Fire Captain Geoff Bogar and his friend of 35 years, Franklin Trejos, had initially stayed behind to help others in Lahaina and save Bogar’s home. But as the flames grew closer Tuesday afternoon, they both knew it was time to go. Each went to his own vehicle.
When Bogar’s car wouldn’t start, he broke the window to get out of the vehicle, crawled along the ground until police found him and took him to a hospital.
Trejos did not have the same luck. When Bogar returned the next day, he found the bones of the 68-year-old man in the back seat of his vehicle, on top of the remains of his beloved pet, Sam, a 3-year-old golden retriever, whom he had attempted to protect.
Trejos, a native of Costa Rica, had lived for years with Bogar and his wife, Shannon Weber-Bogar, assisting her when she had seizures in the absence of her husband. Trejos filled their lives with love and laughter.
“God took a good man,” Weber-Bogar said.
Bill Wyland, who lives on the island of Oahu but owns an art gallery on Lahaina’s Front Street, fled on his Harley Davidson, cruising along empty sidewalks Tuesday to avoid crowded roads as ash washed over him. they burned the hair at the nape of the neck.
Moving into gusts of wind he estimated to be at least 70 mph (112 kph), Wyland passed a cyclist who was pedaling for his life.
“It’s something you’d see in the Twilight Zone, a horror movie or something,” Wyland said.
Wyland realized how lucky he was when he returned to downtown Lahaina on Thursday.
“It was devastating to see all the burned vehicles. There was nothing standing, ”she pointed out.
His gallery was destroyed, as were the works of 30 artists. Emergency managers on Maui were looking for places to house people displaced from their homes. Some 4,500 people need shelter, authorities said Saturday morning via Facebook, citing figures from FEMA and the Pacific Disaster Center.
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Kelleher reported from Honolulu. Associated Press writers Rebecca Boone in Boise, Idaho; Andrew Selsky in Bend, Oregon; Bobby Caina Calvan in New York; Audrey McAvoy in Wailuku, Hawaii; and Lisa J. Adams Wagner, in Evans, Georgia, contributed to this report.
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The Associated Press’s climate and environmental coverage is supported by several private foundations. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
FOUNTAIN: Associated Press
