Fires began on August 8th in Hawaii and rapidly spread across the island, increasing in both size and intensity. As a result, Hawaii announced a state of emergency on August 9th.
Factors that Caused The Wildfire In Maui Hawaii; Know More|Breaking News
In recent decades, the number of wildfires in Hawaii has quadrupled. However, the specific reasons behind the wildfire in Maui, Hawaii that occurred this week are still unknown.
Nevertheless, a combination of weather conditions has created what the National Weather Service identifies as “red flag” conditions, which greatly raise the chances of fires starting and spreading.
Gusting winds, low humidity, lack of rainfall and dry vegetation are some of the viewed factors that caused the destructive wildfire in Maui, Hawaii.
Gusting winds may have intensified the wildfire in Maui, Hawaii by supplying more oxygen to the flames and carrying burning material ahead of the fire. Hawaii is currently facing low humidity levels, which are contributing to the increased risk of wildfire in Maui, Hawaii. When humidity is low, vegetation dry out faster and become more likely to catch fire.
Additionally, rainfall in Hawaii has decreased over the past 30 years, with about 90% of the state receiving less rain than it did a century ago. The spread of invasive plants, specifically guinea grass and fountain grass, has also contributed to the widespread occurrence of fires, as these grasses now cover a significant portion of Hawaii.
Although factors of why wildfire in Maui, Hawaii started have been reported, there was still no news of how the wildfire in Maui, Hawaii actually ignited.
According to Weather, residents are assessing the damage caused by the wildfire in Maui, Hawaii, while officials are still investigating the actual cause of the wildfire in Maui, Hawaii. Although the exact ignition source of the wildfire in Maui, Hawaii is unknown, the National Weather Service had previously warned about dry conditions.
Some residents believe that strong winds may have caused power lines to fall, but authorities may take several days or weeks to determine the true cause of the wildfire in Maui, Hawaii.
Residents of Lahaina in Maui were caught off-guard by a fast-moving wildfire, as they did not receive any alerts warning them about the said wildfire in Maui, Hawaii. Officials believe that no alerts were triggered during the wildfire in Maui, Hawaii.
The mayor of Maui stated that evacuation orders were in place, but it is unclear who received the alert. Some people were advised to stay in their homes to prevent overcrowding on the limited exit routes available.
According to Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, people in Lahaina are now allowed to return to their homes after the recent disaster. Green stated that they are aware that the recovery process will be difficult, but their priority is ensuring the safety of residents as they assess the damage of the said wildfire in Maui, Hawaii.
Maui County Mayor Richard Bisson will provide further updates, including the implementation of a curfew.
READ MORE|How did the wildfires start in Maui? A combination of factors fueled disaster
