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☆ Earth, wind and fire
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

Earth, wind and fire The wildfire that ripped through Lahaina last week, reducing what had once been the jewel of the historic Hawaiian kingdom to rubble, was decades in the making, scientists say. Illustration of smoke rising above mountains How wind spreads fire As wind cascades over mountains, sinking air compresses, heats up and loses moisture. Over Aug. 7 to 9, gale-force wind gusts reached 67 miles per hour (108 kilometres per hour) in Maui County, according to the National Weather Service. Hot and dry air, colored in orange, moves over Hawaii throughout the timelapse. Today, over 90% of Hawaii’s native dry forests have disappeared, and non-native grasses cover roughly a quarter of the state, according to scientists.

Persons: didn’t, ”, Abby Frazier, Dora —, John Bravender, Dora, Hurricane Dora, “ Dora, Bravender, climatologist Frazier, Thomas Smith, Jennifer Balch, Mike Opgenorth, ” Smith, Matthew A, Foster, Handout Organizations: U.S . Drought Monitor, Clark University, National Weather Service, National Oceanic, Pacific Hurricane Center, North Pacific, London School of Economics, Political, University of Colorado Boulder, Pacific Fire Exchange, University of Hawaii, U.S . Army National Guard, Staff Locations: Lahaina, Lahaina —, West Maui, Lahaina simmered, Maui, Massachusetts, Hawaii, Maui County, Honolulu, Canada, India, South America, Caribbean, Lahaina , Hawaii, U.S

☆ On Maui, a perfect storm of climate, colonialism, and failed emergency systems made the deadliest US wildfire in over a century
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Maiya Focht | Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

A deadly wildfire raged through the Hawaiian town of Lahaina, killing at least 111 people, last week. Aerial view shows destroyed homes and buildings near Front Street in Lahaina Town on August 10, 2023. Colonialism: Plantations brought the perfect wildfire fuel, an invasive grassLahaina was once the capital of the indigenous Hawaiian kingdom. Smoke and flames rise in Lahaina, Maui County, Hawaii, U.S., August 8, 2023 in this still image from video obtained from social media. A Mercy Worldwide volunteer makes damage assessment of charred apartment complex in the aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina, western Maui, Hawaii on August 12, 2023.

Persons: Patrick T, Fallon, Jeff Masters, YUKI IWAMURA, Clay Trauernicht, Erin Hawk, We've, Abby Frazier, PATRICK T, FALLON, Dora, Dora didn't, Judson Jones, Jeff Melichar, didn't, Anne Lopez, Herman Andaya Organizations: Service, Getty, Yale, Washington Post, Plantations, Hawaii Public Radio, University of Hawaii, Maui . Flames, Reuters, Clark University, New York Times, REUTERS, ABC7, Mercy Worldwide Locations: Lahaina, Maui, Lahaina Town, Hawaii, U.S, Maui County, AFP

☆ Hawaii wildfires: ATF team with electrical engineer investigating cause of deadly blaze
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Search and rescue crews look through the remains of a neighborhood on August 17, 2023 in Lahaina, Hawaii. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is deploying a team that includes an electrical engineer to investigate the origins of the catastrophic Hawaii wildfires, as the local power company faces growing scrutiny over whether downed electric poles triggered the blaze. The team will assist Maui County fire officials in their investigation. The blaze is the deadliest wildfire in the U.S. in more than a century and the worst disaster in Hawaii state history. Hawaiian Electric is already facing four lawsuits from Maui residents alleging that the power company's lines played a role in the fires.

Organizations: Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives, ATF, Electric, National Weather Service Locations: Lahaina , Hawaii, Maui, Lahaina, U.S, Hawaii, Hurricane

Many wildfires in the United States occur when poles owned by utilities or other structures carrying power lines are blown down, or when branches or other objects land on power lines and cause them to produce high-energy flashes of electricity that can start fires. Image Nearly a week after the wildfire tore through Lahaina, state and local officials have not determined a cause for the blaze. Like most other utilities, Hawaiian Electric operates under the scrutiny of public commissioners who have to approve its spending plans. Power lines have caused catastrophic wildfires in California in recent years, prompting lawsuits that have led to multibillion-dollar payouts by the state’s utilities. Hawaiian Electric in a regulatory filing last year detailed measures aimed at reducing the risk of its equipment causing fires.

Persons: Hurricane Dora, “, ”, James Frantz, Frantz, There’s, Max Whittaker, Shahriar Pourreza, Shelee Kimura, ” Ms, Kimura, Pourreza, Michael Wara, Philip Cheung, Bob Marshall, Jim Kelly, Ken Pimlott, Anne Lopez, Mr, Wara, Kellen Browning, John Keefe, Susan C, Beachy, Alain Delaquérière Organizations: Wildfire, National Weather Service, Frantz Law, Hawaiian Electric, The New York Times, Guggenheim Securities, Maui Electric, Pacific Gas, Pacific Gas and Electric, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Pacific Disaster Center, Stanford University, The New York Times Lightning, Western, NASA, Whisker Labs, Labs, California Department of Forestry, Stanford, U.S . Energy Information Administration Locations: Lahaina, West Maui, Maui, California, United States, Northern California, Paradise, Hawaii, Western United States, Maui County, Germantown, Md, San Francisco

☆ Death toll from Hawaii wildfires will rise as search teams comb Lahaina wreckage, governor says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Maui Police Chief John Pelletier speaks about the wildfire during a media conference in Kahului on Maui island, Hawaii, Aug. 12, 2023. Cars drive away from Lahaina, Hawaii, on Aug. 10, 2023, after wildfires worsened by high winds burned most of the town. A burnt car is seen at the Ho'Onanea condominium complex, in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, Aug. 10, 2023. "We'll know soon whether or not they did enough to get those sirens going," Green told MSNBC. Davilynn Severson and Hano Ganer look through the ashes of their family's home for belongings on Aug. 11, 2023, in the aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii.

Persons: Josh Green, Green, John Pelletier, Mike Blake, Pelletier, " Pelletier, Hurricane Dora, Marco Garcia, Reuters Green, We'll, Davilynn, Patrick T, Fallon Organizations: Lahaina ., Lahaina . Hawaii Gov, CBS, Maui Police, Reuters Maui Police, aloha, Reuters, MSNBC, Staff, Reuters Authorities, Hawaii Emergency Services Administration, AFP, Getty Locations: Hawaii, Lahaina, Lahaina . Hawaii, U.S, Kahului, Maui, Hurricane, Lahaina , Hawaii, America, Maui County, Minnesota, Upper Kula

☆ How to help the victims of the Maui wildfires
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

On Aug. 8, a series of small brush fires started in Maui. They quickly spread due to dry weather and high winds from Hurricane Dora, which passed Hawaii a few hundred miles to the south. The fires have since been mostly contained, but residents are still dealing with the destruction left in their wake. The death toll in Maui climbed to 96 as of Monday, making it the worst U.S. wildfire in over a century. With search and rescue operations still ongoing, the death toll is expected to rise, Hawaii Governor Josh Green said in a video statement released Sunday.

Persons: Hurricane Dora, Josh Green Organizations: Gov Locations: Maui, Hurricane, Hawaii, Lahaina

☆ Maui wildfires: What we know about the deadliest US fire in over a century
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Nouran Salahieh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

While firefighters have made progress against the three largest wildfires, the deadly fire in hard-hit Lahaina is still not fully under control, Maui County Fire Chief Brad Ventura said Saturday. Mike Blake/ReutersThe most destructive and deadly of the fires, the Lahaina wildfire, traveled at an extraordinary speed, the governor said in a video update Sunday afternoon. “When the winds rose up – winds gusting as high as 81 miles per hour – fires spread rapidly,” Green said. Lahaina is the hardest hit areaVideo Ad Feedback The Maui fires destroyed their homes. People are still missing and just 3% of area was searchedA caretaker photographs the site of a home destroyed by the Maui wildfires in Kula, Hawaii on Sunday.

Persons: CNN — Crews, what’s, Josh Green, “ It’s, Brad Ventura, Mike Blake, ” Green, “, Lori Moore, Merrell, Richard T, Bissen, Deanne Criswell, King Kamehameha III, Keith Hayashi, ” Hayashi, John Pelletier, Patrick T, Fallon, Pelletier, Mazie, Brittany Talley, Timm “ TK ” Williams, Williams, Talley, ” Talley, weren’t, we’ll, Anne Lopez, ”, Jim Kelly, ” Kelly Organizations: CNN, ”, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Maui County Fire, Maxar Technologies, FEMA, Sunday, Maui Police, National Fire Protection Association, People, Getty, Sen, Hawaiian Electric Industries, Hawaiian Electric Locations: Maui, ” Hawaii, Lahaina, Maui County, Kula, Hawaii, Lāhainā, Kula , Hawaii, AFP, Kaanapali

Those winds also battered power lines on the island, and dramatic videos show lines swaying and being toppled in the gusts. Now, some locals are casting blame on Hawaiian Electric, the state’s biggest utility, for not shutting off power to high-risk areas – and claiming that its power lines could have sparked the deadly fire. State officials were well aware of the danger posed by downed power lines during hurricanes. A 2021 state report noted that “downed power lines” and “residential and wildland fires” were hazards related to hurricanes. Maui Mayor Richard Bissen said Thursday that power lines that were “still energized” had fallen on the roads.

Persons: Shane Treu, Treu, ” Treu, kindling, Lisa Treu, –, ”, “, Hurricane Dora, “ inexcusably, Jim Kelly, ” Kelly, Kelly, Richard Bissen, Yuri Iwamura, hydrants –, Cole Millington, Millington, Bradford Ventura, Adam Weintraub, ” Weintraub, Jill Tokuda, Keahi Ho, John Stufflebean, Josh Green, Anne Lopez, ” Green, “ It’s, Dora, Abby Frazier, Dora inched, Josh Stanbro Organizations: CNN, Hawaii Army National Guard, Hawaii National Guard, Reuters, Electric, National Weather Service, Hawaiian Electric Company, Public Utilities Commission, Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization, Maui, Volunteers, Getty, Facebook, Bradford, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, Democrat, New York Times, Maui County Department of Water Supply, Times, Government, Hawaii Gov, Clark University Locations: Mauna, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, County, California, Paradise, West Maui, Maalaea, AFP, “, Maui County, United States, Massachusetts

☆ Cadaver dogs are in Maui to help find the deceased
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Zoe Sottile | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

As Maui officials continue searching through the wreckage for the many who are still missing after wildfires tore through the island, they have a new tool at hand: human remains detection dogs, often called cadaver dogs. Human remains detection dogs are one of several kinds of working dogs trained to detect scents, like bomb or drug detection dogs. Search dogs are often dogs with a working heritage, like border collies or German shepherds. Lynne Engelbert, a human remains detection dog handler and teacher, told CNN the job requires a specific canine personality. Lisa Briggs, a forensic criminologist who specializes in the use of human remains detection dogs, told CNN not all human remains detection dogs have the same skills – and the dogs in Maui would need to be imprinted specifically on burnt remains in order to search effectively.

Persons: Hurricane Dora, John Pelletier, “, Jason Purgason, Lynne Engelbert, that’s, ”, Purgason, it’s, Lisa Briggs, –, ” Briggs, Mary Cablk, ” Cablk, “ There’s, Briggs, ” Purgason, Hurricane Katrina, Engelbert, “ They’re Organizations: CNN, National Fire Protection Association, Officials, Federal Emergency Management, Maui Police, Highland Canine, Desert Research Institute, Hurricane, “ Locations: Maui, Hurricane

☆ Maui wildfires: Crews still working to identify 93 victims found so far in deadliest US fire in over a century
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-13 | by ( Nouran Salahieh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

Matthew Thayer/The Maui News/AP Volunteers unload supplies from trucks before loading them onto boats for people in need at Kihei Ramp in Maui, Hawaii, on Saturday, August 12. Rick Bowmer/AP Grace Hurt, right, embraces someone while loading supplies for those in need at Kihei Ramp in Maui, Hawaii, on Saturday. Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources/AP Burnt boats sit in waters off of Lahaina, Hawaii, on Friday. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images In an aerial view, search and rescue crews walk through a neighborhood, continuing to search for missing people in Lahaina, Hawaii, on Friday. Phonoxaylinkham, his wife, and their five children were caught in the Lahaina wildfires and survived by exiting their car and spending four hours in the ocean as the west Maui wildfires raged around them.

Persons: Josh Green, “ It’s, Dora, We’ve, ” Green, ”, John Pelletier, Deanne Criswell, Green, Brad Ventura, Kihei –, •, Anne Lopez, ” Lopez, Matthew Thayer, Evelio Contreras, Rick Bowmer, Grace Hurt, Hurt, Justin Sullivan, Mike Blake, Zoltan Balogh, Zeran Harris, Robert Gauthier, Mengshin Lin, CNN Vixay Phonxaylinkham, Lana, Phonoxaylinkham, Marco Garcia, Claire Rush, Myrna Ah Hee, Sui, Ty O'Neil, Ku'u Kauanoe, ZUMA, Patrick T, Fallon, Dustin Johnson, “, who’ve, Ilihia Gionson, Gionson, –, Steven, Giulietta Daiker, ” Steven, ” Giulietta, “ We’re, Richard Bissen Jr Organizations: CNN, National Fire Protection Association, ”, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Maui Police, FEMA, Maui County Fire, • Cell, Maui News, AP Volunteers, Hawaii Department of Land, Natural Resources, Reuters, . Hawaii Department of Land, Los Angeles Times, AP, Washington Post, Fire Department, Kahului, Technologies, AP Hawaii Army National Guard, Hawaii National Guard, Reuters Residents, ZUMA Passengers, Getty, National Guard, Department of Health, Human Services, Pacific Whale Foundation, Ritz, Carlton, Hawaii Department, Transportation, Saturday, Volunteers, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Lahaina Residents Locations: Maui, ” Hawaii, Maui County, Lahaina, Kihei, Upcountry, Hawaii, Church, Lahaina Hongwanji, Lahaina , Hawaii, Wailuku, Kula, Waiola, Kula , Hawaii, Maalaea, Kahului, California, Las Vegas, AFP, Kapalua, Lahaina –, Hawaiian

☆ Maui wildfires: Firefighting crews make progress against wildfires that killed at least 80 people, but flare-ups continue
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-12 | by ( Aya Elamroussi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

People in Kaanapali were evacuating Friday night after spotting a fire in the neighborhood, which is about 4 miles north of hard-hit Lahaina, Maui police said. The hall of the historic Waiola Church and the nearby Lahaina Hongwanji Mission are engulfed in flames in Lahaina, Hawaii, on Tuesday, August 8. Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources/AP Burnt boats sit in waters off of Lahaina, Hawaii, on Friday. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images In an aerial view, search and rescue crews walk through a neighborhood, continuing to search for missing people in Lahaina, Hawaii, on Friday. Phonoxaylinkham, his wife, and their five children were caught in the Lahaina wildfires and survived by exiting their car and spending four hours in the ocean as the west Maui wildfires raged around them.

Persons: Dora, Kihei –, Rick Bowmer, Richard Bissen, Josh Green, ”, Deanne Criswell, It’s, Anne Lopez, ” Lopez, Matthew Thayer, Mike Blake, Justin Sullivan, Zoltan Balogh, Zeran Harris, Robert Gauthier, Mengshin Lin, Evelio Contreras, CNN Vixay Phonxaylinkham, Lana, Phonoxaylinkham, Marco Garcia, Claire Rush, Myrna Ah Hee, Sui, Ty O'Neil, Ku'u Kauanoe, ZUMA, Patrick T, Fallon, Dustin Johnson, it’s, ” Steve Dolan, “, anything’s, what’s Organizations: CNN — Firefighters, Hawaii Gov, CNN, “, FEMA, Maui Police, Hawaii News, Maui News, Hawaii Department of Land, Natural Resources, . Hawaii Department of Land, Reuters, Los Angeles Times, AP, Washington Post, Kahului, Technologies, AP Hawaii Army National Guard, Hawaii National Guard, Reuters Residents, ZUMA Passengers, Getty Locations: Maui, Lahaina, Hawaii, Kaanapali, Maui County, Kihei, Upcountry, Lahaina , Hawaii, Upper Kula, Church, Lahaina Hongwanji, Kula, Waiola, Wailuku, Kula , Hawaii, Maalaea, Kahului, California, Las Vegas, AFP

☆ Live updates: Maui wildfires death toll rises, Lahaina 80% destroyed
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Aditi Sangal | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Tiffany Kidder Winn via APThe wind-whipped fires in Maui spread swiftly and created a deadly tinderbox, overwhelming residents and local officials in one of the nation’s deadliest wildfires. Fueled by a combination of strong winds and dry conditions – and complicated by the island’s geography – the fires have killed at least 36 people. Severe level drought conditions in Maui County ticked up to 16% from 5% last week, while statewide moderate drought levels jumped to 14% from 6%. Dried-out land and vegetation can fuel wildfires, which can swiftly turn deadly if strong winds help fan the flames toward communities. These winds coupled with low humidity levels produced "dangerous fire weather conditions” through Wednesday afternoon, the weather service said.

Persons: Tiffany Kidder Winn, ” Jennifer Marlon, Dora wasn't, Clay Trauernicht, –, ” Trauernicht, Trauernicht Organizations: Yale School of, CNN, US Drought, National Weather Service, University of Hawaii, of Forestry, Wildlife Locations: Lahaina , Hawaii, Hawaii, Lahaina, Maui, County, Manoa . Hawaii, West Maui

Here is what Lahaina looked like less than a year ago, a vibrant and popular destination for tourists and home to treasured artifacts of the town’s history. In an analysis of satellite imagery, The Times identified about 1,900 structures that had been visibly damaged or destroyed by the blaze. A brush fire was first spotted on Tuesday in an area near Lahaina Intermediate School. It also destroyed a temple and a pagoda at Lahaina Jodo Mission. Nearby, one of Lahaina’s most cherished landmarks, a 150-year-old banyan tree, was badly scarred by the wildfires, but still standing.

Persons: Dora, Hara Organizations: Times, Lahaina Intermediate School, New York Times Locations: Maui, Hawaii, Lahaina, Lahaina Jodo

CNN —Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his fiancée Lauren Sánchez are pledging $100 million dollars to recovery efforts in Maui, Sánchez announced Friday on her Instagram account. “Jeff and I are heartbroken by what’s happening in Maui,” Sánchez wrote. Bezos and Sánchez have been together since 2019 and were engaged earlier this year, a source told CNN in May. In November, Bezos told CNN he planned to donate the bulk of his wealth within his lifetime, saying he wants to devote money to fighting climate change and to supporting people who can unify humanity. Neither Bezos nor Sánchez have signed the Giving Pledge, however.

Persons: Jeff Bezos, Lauren Sánchez, Sánchez, “ Jeff, ” Sánchez, “, ” Sanchez, Dora, Bezos, Bill Gates, Elon Musk, Warren Buffett Organizations: CNN, Amazon, Maui Fund, Washington Post, Bloomberg Locations: Maui

Hawaii Army National Guard CH47 Chinook helicopters perform aerial water bucket drops on the island of Maui to assist with fight of wildfires in Maui, Hawaii, August 9, 2023. An out-of-control wildfire that began along a major Central Maui highway burns Thursday July 11, 2019, in Maui, Hawaii. “Especially when you have severe drought conditions like we have.”Despite these growing dangers, Hawaii state budgets for fire management have not kept pace with worsening conditions, according to the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization, a nonprofit. Hawaii is hardly unique: As climate change is exacerbating natural disasters, state officials across the country are also struggling to respond to new threats. And it’s unclear how significantly additional preparedness and mitigation efforts could have reduced the destruction of a blaze with the intensity and speed of the Lahaina wildfire.

Persons: Pamela Brown’s, ”, Hurricane Dora, didn’t, Clay Trauernicht, Matthew Thayer, Abby Frazier, ” Nani Barretto, Gov, Sylvia Luke, “, Josh Stanbro, Josh Green, Frazier, ” “ Organizations: CNN, Hawaii Army National Guard, Hawaii National Guard, University of Hawaii, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, Maui News, Clark University, Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization, ” Locations: Hawaii, ”, Maui, Lahaina, Maui County, Central Maui, Massachusetts

☆ Hawaii wildfires: How did the Maui fire start and what we know about the Lahaina blaze?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Jonathan Oatis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Aug 11 (Reuters) - Wildfires on Hawaii's Maui island and Big Island have killed at least 55 people, forced thousands of residents and tourists to evacuate, and devastated the historic resort city of Lahaina. WHAT'S DRIVING THE HAWAII WILDFIRES? Winds from Hurricane Dora, hundreds of miles southwest of the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean, have fanned the flames across the U.S. state, officials say. There was no estimate for the Upcountry fire in the mountainous center of the eastern mass of the island, Maui County said. The island of Maui lies to the north and west of the island of Hawaii.

Persons: Elizabeth Pickett, Dora, Pickett, Jonathan Oatis, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: National Weather Service, Islands, U.S . Forest Service, Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization, Maui ., Honolulu Star, U.S . Civil Air Patrol, Maui Fire Department, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Maui, Big, Lahaina, U.S, Hawaii, Europe, Canada, HAWAII, Hurricane Dora, Japan, Guinea, Maui County

☆ U.S. forecasters raise 2023 hurricane forecast
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Erwin Seba | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Marco Bello/File PhotoHOUSTON, Aug 10 (Reuters) - U.S. government forecasters on Thursday said they expect a more dangerous Atlantic storm season than previously projected, raising their Atlantic hurricane outlook due to high sea surface temperatures. In May, NOAA had predicted 12-17 named storms, 5-8 hurricanes and one to four major hurricanes. An average Atlantic season has 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes. NOAA's forecast was raised "to account for record warm sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic," said meteorologist Matthew Rosencrans with the agency’s Climate Prediction Center. "We normally have our 4th named storm on August 14th and first hurricane on August 11th, and we are at 4 named storms and one hurricane."

Persons: Hurricane Ida, Marco Bello, Matthew Rosencrans, El, El Nino, Jim Foerster, Chris Hewitt, Erwin Seba, Gloria Dickie, John Stonestreet Organizations: REUTERS, U.S . National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, Colorado State University, El Nino, El, World Meteorological Organization, Thomson Locations: Louisiana, Montegut , Louisiana, U.S, Pacific, United States, Hawaii, El Nino, Gulf, Mexico, Coast, Texas , Louisiana, Mississippi, London

☆ Help is needed as wildfires ravage Hawaii. How to know your donation is going to a legitimate charity
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Residents of Maui have suffered widespread devastation as wildfires ravage the Hawaiian island, along with Hawaii’s Big Island. Several sites help people find and support legitimate charities, including Charity Navigator, BBB Wise Giving Alliance, and CharityWatch. Dig deeper into an organization’s reputation after finding a legitimate charity you’re considering supporting. Look up the organization in the IRS’s Tax Exempt Organization Search. For larger disasters, like the Maui wildfires, GoFundMe told CNN they usually create a centralized hub of verified fundraisers.

Persons: Hurricane Dora, Patrick T, Fallon, you’ve, ”, It’s, GoFundMe, Don’t, Scottie Andrew Organizations: CNN —, CNN, Getty, US Federal Trade Commission, FTC, telltale Locations: Maui, Hurricane, Lahaina, Hawaii, AFP

☆ These factors are making it hard to combat the deadly Maui wildfires
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Ray Sanchez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —The wildfires in Maui spread swiftly and turned deadly, stunning local officials who were quickly overwhelmed. Fueled by a combination of strong winds and dry conditions – and complicated by the island’s geography – the fires have killed at least 36 people. Moderate drought covers more than one-third of Maui, with some areas experiencing severe drought, according to the US Drought Monitor. Dried-out land and vegetation can provide fuel for wildfires, which then can swiftly turn deadly if strong winds help fan the flames toward communities. “These strong winds coupled with low humidity levels are producing dangerous fire weather conditions” through Wednesday afternoon, the weather service said.

Persons: ” Jennifer Marlon, ”, Clay Trauernicht, ” Marlon, Derek Van Dam, Abby Frazier, ” Frazier, Hurricane Dora, Niño, Frazier, Trauernicht, ” Trauernicht, –, we’ve Organizations: CNN, Yale School of, University of Hawaii, US Drought Monitor, Fourth, National Weather Service, Clark University in, El Nino, Pacific Fire Exchange, of Forestry, Wildlife Locations: Maui, Hawaii, Manoa, Santa Ana, Southern California, Oahu, Clark University in Massachusetts, “, Hurricane, Pacific, ” Hawaii, West Maui

☆ Death toll from Maui fires rises to 53, governor says, and more than 1,000 structures have burned
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

More than 1,000 structures were destroyed by fires that were still burning, he said. The hall of historic Waiola Church in Lahaina and nearby Lahaina Hongwanji Mission are engulfed in flames along Wainee Street on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii. As she assessed the damage Thursday, she came upon a line of burned-out vehicles, some with charred bodies inside them. More than 270 structures have been damaged or destroyed, and dozens of people have been injured, including some critically. A charred boat lies in the scorched waterfront after wildfires fanned by the winds of a distant hurricane devastated Maui's city of Lahaina, Hawaii, U.S. August 9, 2023.

Persons: Josh Green, Matthew Thayer, Green, Tiffany Kidder, couldn't, Winn, Adam Weintraub, they'll, Weintraub, 60mph, Hurricane Dora, Bosco Bae, Bae, Marlon Vasquez, Vasquez, Eduardo, he's, Iiulia Yasso, Patrick T, Fallon, Hale Mahaolu, Louise Abihai, Vierra, Power, Dustin Johnson, Ed Sniffen, Thomas Smith, Mason Organizations: Associated Press, Maui News, Technologies, Getty, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, Facebook, Kahului, AFP, Communications, Reuters Tourists, Hawaii Convention, London School of Economics, Political, Reuters Locations: Maui, Lahaina, Hawaii, Waiola, Lahaina Hongwanji, Lahaina , Hawaii, Banyan, California, Paradise, Maui County, Ankara, Turkiye, Hurricane, Guatemala, Kahului, U.S, Honolulu, Kihei, Maui's

☆ A devastating fire leveled their Maui home 5 years ago. Now it’s happened again
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Aya Elamroussi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Five years ago, the couple’s home turned into ashes when winds from Hurricane Lane helped fuel a fire that encroached onto their property in Lahaina. “I feel like I’m a veteran of disaster here,” Mark Stefl told CNN. “We ran downstairs, grabbed our dogs and cats … and the fire just engulfed our house,” said Mark Stefl, who added they lost a cat and a dog amid the chaos. “I’m literally thankful just to be alive right now,” Mark Stefl said. “It’s going to take years.”Still, Mark Stefl and his wife plan to rebuild – like they did once before.

Persons: Mark Stefl, Michele, –, Dora, Michele Numbers, “, ”, “ I’m, Lane, Gov, Sylvia Luke, ” Luke, “ It’s, We’ll Organizations: CNN, Hurricane Lane Locations: Hawaii, Hurricane, Lahaina, Maui, Maui County

☆ Hawaii wildfires raze resort city on Maui island, killing dozens
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Marco Garcia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Hawaii Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke said late on Wednesday that officials were still assessing the damage. The cause of the Maui wildfires had yet to be determined, but the National Weather Service said a mix of dry vegetation, strong winds, and low humidity fueled the fast-moving conflagration. THREE SEPARATE BLAZESFirefighters were battling three separate blazes on the island, officials said late on Wednesday night, without providing further details. An aerial view shows damage along the coast of Lahaina in the aftermath of wildfires in Maui, Hawaii, U.S. August 9, 2023 this screen grab obtained from social media video. More than 11,000 travelers were evacuated from Maui, Ed Sniffen of the Hawaii Department of Transportation said late on Wednesday.

Persons: Dustin Kaleiopu, Kaleiopu, Sylvia Luke, Thomas Smith, Richard Bissen, Richard Olsten, Kamehameha III's, flyovers, Julius Limbaga, Limbaga, Ed Sniffen, Rich McKay, Brendan O'Brien, Frank McGurty, Angus MacSwan, Alex Richardson, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Hawaiian Kingdom, NBC, National Weather Service, London School of Economics, Political, Reuters Graphics Reuters Graphics Maui, Air Maui Helicopters, REUTERS, Honolulu Star, U.S . Civil Air Patrol, Maui Fire Department, Coast Guard, U.S . Coast Guard, Hawaii Department of Transportation, Kahului, Thomson Locations: Maui, Europe, Canada, Hawaii, Lahaina, Hawaiian, U.S, Lahaina ., Kula, South Maui, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Hurricane Dora, Oahu, West Maui, Atlanta, Chicago

☆ Photos this week: August 4-10, 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

Wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui have caused widespread devastation this week, especially in the town of Lahaina where homes and businesses have been wiped out and hundreds of families have been displaced. Dozens of people have also been killed in the wildfires, which led President Joe Biden to approve a disaster declaration so the state could receive federal aid to assist in the recovery. Most of the fires, fueled partly by strong winds associated with Hurricane Dora hundreds of miles away, have not yet been contained, according to Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen Jr. Hawaii's Big Island has also been impacted by wildfires. Here are some of the stories that made headlines over the past week, as well as some photos that caught our eye.

Persons: Joe Biden, Hurricane Dora, Richard Bissen Jr Organizations: Hurricane Locations: Maui, Lahaina, Maui County

On Tuesday they first saw flames under half a mile from their home, and when winds picked up, the fire suddenly was in their yard, Mark Stefl told CNN on Wednesday. While there’s enough shelter for an emergency response for a few days, “there’s not enough shelter for long term living,” the governor told CNN. • Hospitals overwhelmed: Hospitals on Maui were overwhelmed with burn patients and people suffering from smoke inhalation, Luke told CNN Wednesday. Fire burned buildings near Dickenson Street in Lahaina, Maui, on Tuesday. “I am told my house is gone, but we are not yet allowed access to West Maui,” he said.

Persons: Maureen Stefl, Mark Stefl, “, ” Mark Stefl, ”, Hurricane Dora, Gov, Sylvia Luke, weren’t, •, Luke, Josh Green, “ there’s, Joe Biden, Green, CNN’s Sara Sidner, Daniel Sullivan, inched, CNN’s Kaitlin Collins, Braintin Stevens, Ed Sniffen, Sniffen, Alan Dicker, ” Richie Olsten, CNN’s Jake Tapper, Alan Dickar, ” Dickar, Jeff Melichar, ” Luke, “ We’re, “ It’s, ” Stefl, Stefl, We’ll Organizations: CNN, they’ve, US Coast Guard, US Navy, • Cell, Hawaii Gov, •, Coast Guard, Hawaii Department of Transportation, Airlines, Southwest, Maui, Gov, Maxar Technologies, Hawaii’s Tourism Authority, Lahaina Heritage Museum, Baldwin Home Museum, Hing Locations: Maui, Lahaina, Hawaii, Wednesday, Alaska, Delta, United, Dickenson, West Maui, ”, India, Hawaii’s, It’s

☆ Hawaii wildfires: How did the Maui blazes start and what we know about the damage to Lahaina
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Jonathan Oatis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

An aerial view shows smoke as wildfires ravage the island in Maui, Hawaii, August 9, 2023. WHAT'S DRIVING THE HAWAII WILDFIRES? Winds from Hurricane Dora, hundreds of miles southwest of the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean, have fanned the flames across the U.S. state, officials say. It is made up of eight main islands, including Hawaii, known as the Big Island. The island of Maui sits to the east of the island of Hawaii.

Persons: Dora, Jonathan Oatis, Andrew Hay, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: REUTERS, National Weather Service, Islands, U.S . Forest Service, Maui ., Honolulu Star, U.S . Civil Air Patrol, Maui Fire Department, Reuters Graphics, Thomson Locations: Maui, Hawaii, County, Handout, Big, Lahaina, U.S, Europe, Canada, HAWAII, Hurricane Dora, Japan, Guinea, Kihei, South Maui, Kula

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