In previous years before the recent wildfire that struck and destroyed the town of Lahaina, wildfire experts have been calling attention to the overgrown nonnative grasses. The experts have been submitting reports to the Hawaiian government that explained how the dried and overgrown grasses posed as fuel that can cause extreme wildfire destruction to the island and its towns.
As the turns of history have it, the environmental problem was left unchecked for years up to August 08, 2023. It was the day when all elements and conditions came together and resulted into the most destructive massive blaze that decimated the town of Lahaina in the island of Maui
No Exact Cause of the Wildfire was Established
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Although investigators said no single cause was established as reason for the brush fire that began in Maui’s upcountry region/ Still, drought and strong winds were determined as major reasons for the Maui brush fires that had quickly spread to the overgrown grasses in Lahaina.
Strong winds brought to the island by Hurricane Dora sent sparks flying, which found fuel in Lahaina’s overgrown nonnative grasses. The bush fires quickly grew massively as they were being fanned and fueled by strong winds. Glowing embers had spread across the town of Lahaina, which many described as fire rain,. Some residents tried desperately to save their homes but failed. They had no other choice but to evacuate and leave their burning home.
To make matters worse, the high winds caused active power lines to fall on the burning houses and buildings, which further ignited the fire that razed Lahaina to the ground.
Hundred of people died and hundreds more are still missing, as some residents were forced to take refuge in the sea of the nearby Pacific Ocean, Bill Weir, the chief climate correspondent of CNN reported that the historic town of Lahaina appeared as if a bomb had gone off and wiped out the historical buildings of Lahaina.