Jennifer Sinco Kelleher

It's been nearly a month since the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century killed at least 115 people in Hawaii. Lawsuits are piling up in court. Businesses across the island of Maui are fretting about the loss of tourism. Government officials from the local mayor to President Joe Biden have pledged support. The death toll has remained at 115 since Aug. 21. But many more people remain on a list of those who are unaccounted for. It's unclear whether the number of dead will rise and whether it will ever be known how many perished.

National News |
Things to know about aid, lawsuits and tourism nearly a month after fire leveled a Hawaii community

September 6, 2023 at 2:38 p.m.

It's been nearly a month since the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century killed at least 115 people in Hawaii. Lawsuits are piling up in court. Businesses across...

The number of people on the official list of those missing from the Maui wildfire stands at 385, nearly unchanged from a week earlier. In a news release Friday, the Maui Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation said 245 people on the list of 388 made public the previous week were located and removed from the list. However, a nearly equal number of new names were added. The updated total was a startling departure from what had been expected — a day earlier Gov. Josh Green said he expected the number would fall below 100.

National News |
Maui fire missing list falls slightly to 385. Governor had indicated it would be below 100

September 2, 2023 at 2:35 a.m.

The number of people on the official list of those missing from the Maui wildfire stands at 385, nearly unchanged from a week earlier. In a news release Friday, the...

Hawaii’s electric utility acknowledged its power lines started a wildfire on Maui but faulted county firefighters for declaring the blaze contained and leaving the scene, only to have a second wildfire break out nearby and become the deadliest in the U.S. in more than a century.

National News |
Hawaii power utility takes responsibility for first fire on Maui, but faults county firefighters

August 28, 2023 at 3:32 p.m.

Hawaii’s electric utility acknowledged its power lines started a wildfire on Maui but faulted county firefighters for declaring the blaze contained and leaving the scene, only to have a second...

Authorities in Hawaii are pleading with relatives of those missing after the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century to come forward and give DNA samples. Officials said Tuesdsay that the low number provided so far threatens to hinder efforts to identify any remains discovered in the rubble. Some 1,000 to 1,100 names remain on a tentative, unconfirmed list of people unaccounted for after wildfires destroyed the historic seaside community of Lahaina on Maui. But authorities say that so far, DNA samples have been collected from from just 104 families. That's lower than what has been seen in other disasters. It's not immediately clear why. As of Tuesday, there are115 confirmed deaths from the fire.

National News |
Hawaii officials urge families of people missing after deadly fires to give DNA samples

August 22, 2023 at 11:24 p.m.

Authorities in Hawaii are pleading with relatives of those missing after the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century to come forward and give DNA samples. Officials said Tuesdsay...

The head of the Maui Emergency Management Agency has resigned after facing criticism for not activating disaster sirens during last week’s deadly wildfires that killed at least 111 people. The County of Maui announced Thursday on Facebook that Mayor Richard Bissen accepted the resignation of Herman Andaya, who cited unspecified health reasons for leaving his post. Bissen said that “given the gravity of the crisis we are facing," a replacement will be named as soon as possible. On Wednesday, Andaya defended the decision not to sound sirens as flames raged. Andaya said officials were afraid the sirens would have prompted people to flee toward the mountains or inland, or into the flames.

National News |
Maui’s emergency services chief resigns after facing criticism for not activating sirens during fire

August 18, 2023 at 5:24 a.m.

The head of the Maui Emergency Management Agency has resigned after facing criticism for not activating disaster sirens during last week’s deadly wildfires that killed at least 111 people. The...

Parishioners mourned the dead and prayed for the missing in Hawaii churches as communities began looking ahead to a long recovery from last week’s wildfire on Maui. The blaze demolished a historic town and killed more than 90 people. Hawaii officials urged tourists to avoid traveling to Maui because many hotels are preparing to house evacuees and first responders. Authorities are also warning that the effort to find and identify the dead is just beginning. Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said Saturday that crews with cadaver dogs have covered just 3% of the search area.

National News |
Hawaii churches offer prayers for the dead and the missing after devastating Maui wildfires

August 14, 2023 at 4:35 a.m.

Parishioners mourned the dead and prayed for the missing in Hawaii churches as communities began looking ahead to a long recovery from last week’s wildfire on Maui. The blaze demolished...

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