How much of Maui has burned in the wildfires? Aerial images show fire damage as containment efforts continue
The wildfires in Maui have burned thousands of acres since the blaze began earlier this month, and some of the fires were still partially contained as of Monday. The Lahaina fire – the most devastating of the blazes – burned an estimated 2,170 acres, the County of Maui said in a news release on Monday. That's about 3.4 square miles.
How much of Maui has burned?
Lahaina bore the brunt of the flames and the historic town was completely destroyed. With 2,170 acres burned, the Lahaina fire is about 90% contained, according to the release.
The wildfires began on Aug. 8 and since then, the Olinda fire in central Maui has burned an estimated 1,081 acres and the nearby Kula fire burned an estimated 202 acres. Both of these blazes are about 85% contained.
The Pulehu-Kihei fire was 100% contained as of Aug. 12. It is unclear how many acres burned in this fire, but on Aug. 15 officials estimated 3,200 had burned. Together, those estimates represent more than 10 square miles, of Maui's total area of 735 square miles.
The county said in a news release the still-burning fires are not posing active threats, even though containment of the fires hasn't changed in several days. "The fires are not advancing, but full containment can be more difficult to establish and determine in urban settings," the release reads. "[Maui Fire Department] continues to utilize infrared technology, water drops, and firefighters to locate and address hot spots in the ongoing effort to fully extinguish these fires."
Preliminary numbers released on Aug. 12 showed at least 2,200 buildings – about 86% of which are residential – were destroyed or damaged in the Lahaina fire, according to the University of Hawaii's Pacific Disaster Center.
The cost to rebuild was estimated to be $5.52 billion.
The fires also led to an unsafe water advisory for Lahaina and Upper Kula, which remains in effect, according to the news release. Residents are being asked to use only bottled water or potable water, which they can pick up at several centers in both of these areas.
About 1,800 Hawaii Electric customers in Lahaina are without power still, as are nearly 50 customers in Kula. The electric company is working to restore power to essential buildings like grocery stores and pharmacies and then they will look at individual businesses and private properties, according to news release.
On Facebook, the county warned residents about hazardous materials like asbestos, lead, ash, pesticides and other materials that may be present in the areas where structures burned. There may also be broken pipes and glass, exposed nails and other hazards such as propane tanks, which could be dangerous.
County officials urged those who can return to their properties to do so wearing personal protective equipment and to avoid all burn areas unless cleared by authorities.
Maui wildfires death toll
As of Monday, the fires have caused at least 115 deaths and 13 families have been notified of the deaths of individuals that have been identified. At least 22 families have yet to be notified of deaths of individuals who have been identified, the Maui Police Department said in a news release.
How many people are still missing in Maui?
On Monday, Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said during a press conference that 850 people are still listed as missing, citing data compiled by the FBI and local authorities. He said the FBI is collecting DNA samples from people who believe their immediate family members went missing during the fire, as a way to aid in the identification process.
More than 1,900 people are estimated to seeking shelter at one of the six Maui hotels being used shelters in coordination with the American Red Cross, according to the county's release.
Aerial images of Maui fire damage
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- Hawaii Wildfires
- Lahaina
Caitlin O'Kane is a digital content producer covering trending stories for CBS News and its good news brand, The Uplift.
