It took just one day, a year ago.
On one day-August 7- there was a bustling Maui seaside town of 12,000 residents- beloved by tourists for its charm, and revered by residents for its Hawaiian legacy. By the next day- August 8, 2023- more than 100 people were dead and at least 80% of the town had burned to the ground. Maui’s city of Lahaina had been naturally fire-bombed, by a blaze likely sparked by a downed power line and fanned by hurricane winds from Hurricane Dora off the coast.
“These kinds of fires, they erase your fingerprints on this world. The fire keeps taking and the aftermath goes on for years.” (Barbara Bowen, Paradise fire survivor)
We in California know all about wildfires. We had the historic Gold Rush town of Paradise- and their neighboring town of Concow- destroyed in the Camp Fire in 2018. Just as in Lahaina, many died horribly, trapped in their cars while struggling to flee the flames. The Camp Fire killed 85 people, and destroyed 18,000 town buildings and homes. Paradise’s 26,000 residents were reduced by 80%- to around 4,700.
So Californians, with our many Paradise and other wildfire victims, can empathize with the hard issues that Maui survivors now face. Being displaced by economic uncertainties while waiting for settlement monies or permits to rebuild are just a few of them. Donations to Rebuild Paradise Foundation- a key aid for Paradise residents starting over- are welcome anytime, even now 5 years later.
Maui is still particularly vulnerable after an incredibly hard year. Only 21 residential property owners have begun to rebuild their homes in the 5 mile Lahaina burn zone. And even though a whole year has passed, no commercial building permits have been released yet. Delays are due to complications from a push to restore a buried historical site and wetland, along with a rising sea level that is predicted to impact any rebuilt ocean front properties. Displaced people remain struggling for long-term housing. Tourism- the main source of most everyone’s livelihood- has not returned to its former level.
So recovery from a devastating wildfire is an extended painful process. A lot of ongoing support from concerned people is still needful. Donating to our Hawaiian brethren- through any number of faithful organizations such as the American Red Cross, Convoy of Hope, Chef Hui, or Hawaii Community Foundation’s Maui Strong Fund- is a wonderful gesture. Now is an especially nice time to make a “birthday” contribution for Hawaii, since they became America’s 50th state on August 21, 1959.
Yet the debate rages on whether such intense fires are a result of climate change. The factors that created these perfect firestorms are complex, and scientists will be studying them for years to come. But stepping back for a larger view of these catastrophic events is perhaps a wise move for everyone. You can give support for organizations such as the National Fire Protection Association or their Firewise USA program that help to reduce residential fire risk- or follow their practical safety procedures for your own home. Maybe give to scientific research done by large organizations like the Nature Conservancy. Or support lesser known organizations such as DEPLOY/US that aims for net-zero emissions by 2050, US’s Clean Air Task Force, or US-based Project Inner Space with their focus on geothermal energy. There are endless opportunities for everyone to help people and our world in some way.
Because one thing is for certain. The day has come for everyone to become both empathetic and proactive about these climate events- in whatever ways you choose to best express it. It took just one day-a single day– for the ordinary residents of Lahaina or Paradise or California’s North Bay Counties to have their worlds upended and changed forever.
We must be in this together, because more of those days are sure to come.
#MauiWildfires #CampFire #FirewiseUSA #Lahaina
