Vox Populi:

Thousands of people were evacuated along Maui’s popular west coast as wildfires spread through buildings and hillsides starting Aug. 8, 2023, powered by strong winds from an offshore hurricane. Much of Lahaina, a tourist town of over 13,000 residents, was in flames.

Most fires in the U.S. are suppressed before they have a chance to threaten communities, but the winds from Hurricane Dora were too strong to send helicopters to help contain the blazes on the first day, leaving firefighters to battle the fires from the ground. The U.S. Coast Guard rescued several people from waters off Lahaina who were trying to escape the smoke and flames.

With more fires burning on the Big Island of Hawaii, Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke issued an emergency declaration, activating the National Guard to help.Video shared by Maui Now shows the fires and strong winds.Lines of flames move quickly through the hills in Maui the night of Aug. 8, 2023.

Fires have become an increasing risk in many areas of the U.S. that people once considered safe.

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