Hawaii Wildfire 2023: How did the Maui fire start and why are they still burning?

Is the island still burning?

Although the largest fire in Lahaina, which accounted for around 85% has been contained, firefighting crews continue to battle flare-ups in Maui. A total of 2,170 acres (880 hectares) have been burned so far, as per Maui County. On the other hand, the fire in upcountry/Kula was 75% contained. The fire has charred at least 678 acres.

The abnormally dry weather clubbed with Hurricane winds is said to be the reason that fueled the flames. The wildfire that started on the night of August 08, 2023, destroyed more than 2,000 buildings which included 86% of the residential area. The fire also destroyed various historical sites.

How did the Hawaii wildfire begin on August 08, 2023?

A proper cause of the fire is yet to be determined by the officials. However, The National Weather Service had earlier issued a warning of dry and windy weather. As per the U.S. Forest Service, about 85% of U.S. wildfire tragedies are caused due to humans. It is also a fact that non-native grasses are often more flammable than native grasses. These non-native grasses, which previously used to be farmland and forest, created a large amount of small, easily ignited materials which became a potential threat for a severe wildfire.

Meanwhile, various residents claimed that Hawaii's disaster warning siren did not alert them when the wildfire started to spread raising questions for the authorities.

The main aim of these warning sirens is to warn people about the natural calamity that is coming their way and to alert them to take necessary actions within the time.