Maui fires – latest: California woman named as first tourist among victims as residents start returning home

Authorities have confirmed 115 deaths following the deadliest wildfire in more than a century in the United States

President Biden and First Lady arrive in Maui

A California woman has been named as the first tourist to have died in the devastating Maui wildfires.

Officials identified 72-year-old Theresa Cook from Pollock Pines in northern California as among the victims of the deadly blaze in the historic Hawaiian town of Lahaina.

Some 115 deaths have been confirmed following the deadliest wildfire in more than a century in the United States. The unconfirmed list of missing people currently stands at 1,100 names.

Hawaiian officials also pleaded with relatives of those missing to come forward and give DNA samples, saying the low number provided so far threatens to hinder efforts to identify any remains discovered in the ashes.

President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden met with first responders and survivors on Monday and promised that the federal government would be with them “for as long as it takes” to rebuild the community.

Survivors were also voicing fears of a potential wave of land grabs by realtors and investors that could push Hawaiian locals from the island.

Key points

• California woman identified as victim of Hawaii fires
• Biden tells Hawaii that the US ‘grieves with you’ as he surveys Maui wildfire devastation
• How did Maui wildfires start?
• Maui officials say 100 per cent of residential properties searched
• Biden appoints new FEMA administrator to Maui

[22 August 2023 22:30 · Ariana Baio]

GOP under fire for trying to make news out of Biden petting a dog in Hawaii

After a Republican National Committee social media account tried to make a big deal out of President Joe Biden petting a dog during his Hawaii visit, the White House bit back.

On Monday, RNC Research tweeted: “Biden gets distracted by a dog: “That’s some hot ground, man!” The tweet was posted alongside a video of the president petting a golden retriever while talking to a FEMA worker in Hawaii amid the fatal wildfires.

Kelly Rissman reports:

[22 August 2023 23:00 · Ariana Baio]

Watch: Biden visits Maui to survey destruction from devastating wildfires

[23 August 2023 00:00 · Ariana Baio]

Online posts spread misinformation about FEMA aid following Maui wildfires

In the aftermath of the deadly Maui wildfires, some social media users are discouraging residents from accepting disaster aid by falsely claiming the Federal Emergency Management Agency could seize their property if they do.

“If you own land in Lahaina, do not sign anything for FEMA,” a woman says on a video circulating widely on social media. “That is why they’re holding back all of the donations and saying, Hey, you want food come sign this?”

But disaster recovery experts and lawyers stress accepting aid doesn’t give FEMA any such powers to take private lands and that the posts are misrepresenting federal law. Here are the facts.

CLAIM: FEMA can seize the private property of any Maui resident that signs up for disaster assistance.

THE FACTS: The federal agency says the claims are “absolutely false” and encourages Hawaiians to visit a website it launched recently to address rumors and frequently asked questions in the aftermath of the fires, which have claimed more than 100 lives.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

[23 August 2023 00:02 · Louise Boyle]

Pictured: Aftermath of Lahaina fires seen from the sky

An aerial view shows the aftermath of a devastating wildfire in Lahaina, Hawaii on Tuesday, August 22, 2023 (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

[23 August 2023 01:00 · Ariana Baio]

ICYMI: Mayor of Maui says 850 people are still missing

Nearly two weeks after fast-moving wildfires engulfed several neighbourhoods in Maui, there are still 850 people missing.

Richard Bissen, the mayor of Maui, said in a Facebook video post that officials in the American Red Cross, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) based in Honolulu and Maui Police Department have combined and refined a list of names of the missing individuals.

The number is a decline from the 2,000+ names it contained when the search for missing residents first began last week.

Mr Bissen said he was both “saddened and relieved” about the numbers, saying that over 1,287 people have been located safe.

Of the original missing list, 11t have been declared deceased as of Monday morning, with most of those identifications pending.

[23 August 2023 03:00 · Ariana Baio]

Maui’s wildfire victims in full

[23 August 2023 05:00 · Ariana Baio]

Biden tells Hawaii that the US ‘grieves with you’ as he surveys Maui wildfire devastation

Joe Biden told Hawaii that the rest of the United States “grieves with you” as he and the first lady surveyed the devastation of the Maui wildfires.

Mr Biden, who has been criticised for his administration’s response to the historic blaze, met with first responders in Lahaina before making remarks next to the famed and still-standing banyan tree.

“The country grieves with you, stands with you and will help do everything to help you rebuild,” the president said.

Graeme Massie reports:

[23 August 2023 07:00 · Ariana Baio]

Officials take preventative measures over toxins spreading to ocean

Officials in Maui are preparing for mudslides or possibly flooding as remnants of tropical cyclone Fernanda is expected to hit parts of Hawaii.

The National Weather Service predicted parts of Maui could receive one to three inches and warned residents to be aware of flooding as burned land can not soak up rainwater.

But another issue is the potential of toxins, released from houses and businesses burning down, running off into the ocean.

Federal and local officials said they were trying to prevent the toxins from spilling into the ocean by using a glue-like material to bind ash and debris.

Fences will be built near the coast and hay bales will be placed near storm drains to reduce the spread of pollution as well.

[23 August 2023 09:00 · Ariana Baio]

Maui guest interrupts Steve Bannon broadcast to rail against politicisation of wildfire coverage

Steve Bannon’s War Room podcast had an unexpected guest show up mid-broadcast when the former Trump aide’s interview subject was confronted by a Maui resident who accused him of politically exploiting the island’s wildfires.

Nick Sortor, an independent journalist who has been featured on Fox News, Newsmax and OAN, has been covering the Maui wildfires. While talking to Bannon, he was interrupted by a man who popped up behind him on camera.

Kelly Rissman reports:

[23 August 2023 10:00 · Ariana Baio]

Nearly 2000 residents taking shelter at various hotels

More than 1,9000 Maui residents are currently sheltering at several different hotels around Maui.

Those hotels include the Hyatt Regency Maui, Outrigger Kaʻanapali Beach Resort, Royal Lahaina, Honua Kai Outrigger, Maui Seaside Hotel and the Westin Maui.