Maui wildfires updates: President Biden, first lady tour damage

The fires burned thousands of homes and commercial buildings to the ground.

ByMark Osborne, Meredith Deliso, Morgan Winsor, Nadine El-Bawab, Mary Kekatos, Kevin Shalvey, Jolie Lash, Ivan Pereira, and Kiara Alfonseca
Video byJulian Kim and Emmanuelle Saliba
Last Updated: August 21, 2023, 2:00 PM EDT

The deadly wildfires that erupted on the Hawaiian island of Maui on Aug. 8 have become the deadliest natural disaster in state history, officials said.

The blazes spread rapidly due to very dry conditions stemming from a drought combined with powerful winds. Much of the historic town of Lahaina has been "destroyed," officials said, and the inferno has burned thousands of residential and commercial buildings to the ground.

Maui Wildfires
ABC News, AP, Nasa

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news developed. All times Eastern.
Aug 17, 2023, 5:36 am

Maui Strong: Charities to directly support wildfire relief efforts

On Thursday, "Good Morning America" and ABC News organized efforts to help viewers get involved in relief efforts for survivors of the Maui fires.

"Good Morning America" is helping raise awareness for Maui fire relief efforts.
ABC News

How to help:

-- Maui Strong Fund

-- Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement

-- University of Hawai'i Foundation

-- Kokua Restaurant & Hospitality Fund for Maui

-- American Red Cross/ABC

-ABC News’ Kelly McCarthy

Aug 16, 2023, 11:55 am

What we know about the victims

Over 100 people have died from the devastating wildfires on Maui. Officials have warned that the death toll is expected to rise as they work to contain the active blazes and assess the damage.

Click here to read what we know about some of the victims.

PHOTO: In an undated photo, Buddy Jantoc, center, is seen with his granddaughter Keshia Alakai and her husband.
In an undated photo, Buddy Jantoc, center, is seen with his granddaughter Keshia Alakai and her husband. Courtesy of The Family of Buddy Jantoc
Courtesy of The Family of Buddy Jantoc

Aug 17, 2023, 9:03 PM EDT

Maui Emergency Management Agency official resigns over health reasons

Maui Emergency Management Agency administrator Herman Andaya, who on Wednesday defended not sounding the sirens as wildfires ripped through the island, has resigned.

Andaya cited health reasons for resigning, according to a news release from the mayor's office

In this image taken from video, Maui Emergency Management Agency Administrator Herman Andaya speaks during a news conference in Wailuku, Hawaii, Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023.
Mike Householder/AP

Mayor Richard Bissen accepted the resignation and announced Thursday night he will quickly work to fill the position.

“Given the gravity of the crisis we are facing, my team and I will be placing someone in this key position as quickly as possible and I look forward to making that announcement soon,” Bissen said in a statement.

Aug 17, 2023, 5:57 PM EDT

FEMA launches website to dispel rumors

Following reports of misinformation over the federal government's response to the wildfires, the Federal Emergency Management Agency launched a website that includes frequently asked questions and dispels rumors.

The website, which will be updated regularly, will help "to keep survivors of the Hawaii wildfires aware of rumors and scams, and to help them better understand the federal disaster assistance programs and processes," the agency said in a statement.

Some of the misinformation dispelled so far on the site included falsehoods that FEMA charges for inspections and that the agency only provides disaster assistance if an applicant forfeits their land.

-ABC News' Luke Barr

Aug 17, 2023, 5:27 PM EDT

Hawaii AG to use third party company to conduct independent review of fire response

Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez announced Thursday that she is engaging with a third party "with experience in emergency management" to conduct an investigation into last week's deadly wildfires.

"We intend to look at this critical incident to facilitate any necessary corrective action and to advance future emergency preparedness," Lopez said in a statement.

The attorney general said the independent review will likely be a "months-long effort," and the information collected by the third party will be "used to assess the performance in emergency preparedness as we are constantly looking for ways to improve."

Aug 17, 2023, 4:44 PM EDT

40% of area searched, with death toll remaining at 111

Forty-percent of the impacted area on Maui has been searched, with the death toll remaining at 111, Maui County officials said Thursday.

A volunteers works at a food and supply distribution center set up in the parking lot of a shopping mall in Lahaina, Hawaii, Aug. 16, 2023.
Jae C. Hong/AP

The Olinda fire, Kula fire and Lahaina fire are 85%, 80% and 89% contained, respectively, officials said, adding that there are no active threats.

Electricity has been restored to more than 80% of the customers who lost power, officials said.

Utility workers repair cell phone service towers in the aftermath of the Maui wildfires in Lahaina, Hawaii, on Aug. 16, 2023.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

Emergency shelters housed 166 people overnight Wednesday, officials said. Another 279 people were relocated from shelters to hotels.

Residents heading to Lahaina to check on their homes are urged to be careful of the debris, as well as ash which could "contain toxic and cancer-causing chemicals including asbestos, arsenic and lead," officials warned.

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