Maui fires
The left likes to use all forest fires as opportunities to blame climate change.
But here’s the probable cause for the destructive fires in Maui:
But some experts said they suspect human development on the island is at least partly to blame for the destruction.
Wildfires have quadrupled in Hawaii in recent decades, and many scientists say the culprit is unmanaged, nonnative grasslands planted by plantations and ranchers and others unfamiliar with the island’s native ecosystems. The grass is dry and prone to fires.
“There is no doubt that fire-prone grasses have invaded drier Hawaiian ecosystems and brought larger, more intense fires,” said Peter Vitousek, a professor of earth sciences at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California.
High winds and low humidity likely contributed to the fires, but officials know little else, said Maj. Gen. Kenneth Hara, commander general of the Hawaii Army National Guard, at a briefing Wednesday.
The high winds were from a distant hurricane.
I wrote a number of posts about wildfires in California that also blamed human habitation encroaching more and more on areas of dry, unmanaged vegetation. This seems to be a constant theme for wildfires these days, as well as arson.
There have been similar horrifying fires on Greek islands in recent years, with people jumping into the ocean to escape the flames. Tragic.
I am afraid we’ll have a report, in a few days or weeks, that some idiot tourist or camper on Maui left a campfire burning.
Maui has both wet and dry regions due to the NE trade winds and differing elevations. The fires seem to be in the dry areas and the trade winds were stronger than usual due to low pressure in the south left in the wake of Dora. Thirty six dead so far, it is hard to imagine. The fires must have come on very quickly.
I spent a month in Maui thirty years ago as part of my job, it seemed rather rustic at the time. There is a tsunami warning system in place, but no one expected fire. I’m sorry to see this happening.
We lived in Navy housing on Oahu in the mid 60’s. The houses were “single wall construction”; essentially single rather thin planks nailed to a frame. In other words a tinder box. I presume that this construction is also common in the civilian communities.
As Chuck said, the leeward sides of the islands are very dry. Because of the mountainous terrain, nearly every island does have a leeward side.
This is certainly a tragedy.
Maui and the Big Island are young and don’t have the tropical growth seen on Oahu. When we were on the Big Leland last fall I was shocked to see how much looks like Wyoming; lots of grasslands prairie.
Mismanagement of your open spaces, non-native species (flora & fauna), and the climate boiling lie…who needs a stray cigarette or lightning strike?
Replace Maui for the Australian high country bushland and you have the same story.
I know Maui pretty well. Used to layover there back in the days of my airline career. Lahaina, where the fire was the worst was a very small town back then. There has been a lot of growth on the Island in the last 30 years. So, more infrastructure to burn.
The circumstances of the fire becoming so big are quite unique. The Lahaina area has been experiencing a drought for the last few months. The rest of the island has gotten normal rain, according to the weather service.
The combination of the hurricane and a high-pressure system in just the right place created a wind tunnel that hit the leeward side of the island. Wind and fire are a potent combination. Once a fire got started in that kind of wind, it would be hard to stop. This was a one off for the islands, IMO.
I’m sick of every weather event being blamed on climate change. Hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, sudden freezes, crippling snowstorms, etc. are all weather. They’ve all happened many times before and will happen again.
How many people remember hurricane Iniki that destroyed Kauai in 1992?
“September 1992: Hurricane Iniki caused more damage than any other hurricane to affect Hawai?i since records began. It hit the island of Kauai as a Category 4 on September 11. Iniki caused $3.1 billion in damage, mainly to Kauai.[23] It remains the costliest East/Central Pacific hurricane on record. Six died as a result. Iniki brought winds of 140 miles per hour (230 km/h).” Today, it would be blamed on climate change.
We’re entering our wildfire season here in the Pacific Northwest. There’s a segment on nearly every nightly news show about how bad it will be this year because of climate change. So far, it’s been a lower fire year than usual. That could change, but none of it is due to climate change. Most fires are caused by human carelessness or arson and a few by lightning. String winds make them worse. Forest management and logging helps keep forests in shape to handle fires. But we can’t do that. Because….reasons.
Thank you to all who have provided first hand knowledge of the island.
An incredible tragedy! I pray for the people of Maui. Hopefully those missing are simply dislocated and turn up safe.
The fires resulted most likely, from downed power lines. Wind was 40+, gusts to 80,both in Lahaina, and in Kula.
The plantations, both Maui Pine, and HC&S, had 35000 acres under cultivation-also they functioned as firebreaks.
When the plantations closed, everyone I know, realized that dryland forests need to be managed. As others have said, the native grasses don’t exist. Kiawe trees continue to burn, down into the roots, and wind brings up new fires.
Yes, its time the state and the county(there are no city governments in Hawaii), need to find a way to replant thousands of acres with drought resistant, or fire resistant plants.
There exists a company, Mahi Pono, that is planting millions of citrus and other trees. Most are now 3 or 4 feet tall. they plan to plant 40000 acres. Time will tell.
There is irrigation to all of the fields. the plantations used flood irrigation until the late 70’s, early 80’s. after that drip was used, or rather drip tape.
In the last several years, we have had major brush fires, about this same time of year. Leeward sides get little rain, compared to the windward side.
The last big one, several years ago, closed the two roads out of Kihei. I was lucky, and was around when Oprah opened the road to up country, so we could escape. If the fire had of continued, most of Kihei would have suffered Lahainas fate.
People also don’t understand that there is ONE road, to and from the west(lahaina) side. the road that goes north, is one lane for much of the time. No guard rails, no markings, just a very small road, with sheer cliffs on one side, and lava and boulders on the other. It takes 3 hours minimum to go from Lahaina, to Kahului using this ‘back side’ route. Rental companies prohibit using this route. Going thru the Kahakaloa area, you are 4 feet from peoples front doors. The distance is 25 miles, using the south road. takes about 40 minutes.
All electric is on poles, newer ones are hurricane poles, steel and very high. Underground is almost impossible, due to the blue rock found on Maui.
To fight the fires, Maui Fire had 100 men. For three major blazes, Kula, Pulehu, and Lahaina. They were out matched from the get go. They have helos, but those can’t fly in 60mph wind. and when they do, the small buckets make little distance. there are no california type c-130 tankers, anywhere in Hawaii.
To be honest, with the wind, which had been blowing for days, like normal trades, but 3 times as strong, it was a disaster from the start.
They fought the kula fire first, and thought the Lahaina fire was out.
When it came back, it went thru lahaina like a a hurricane. From late night, to early morning, a space of a few hours, it completely destroyed Lahaina town.
100 year old buildings, mostly wood. spaced very very close together.
Friends i know live on LahainaLuna rd. From the time they smelled smoke, to the time they were running for their lives, was minutes,literally.
Two ran to the harbor, the heat was so intense many people died unable to run anymore. Dozens of people dove into the ocean, which became hell on earth, as the boats in the harbor ignited from the intense heat and embers. Oil coated the water. Many people didn’t make it thru that.
It is terribly terribly sad here. I have lived on Maui for 40 years. Everyone I know has an uncle or aunty, niece or cousin they know who are now homeless, and out of work as well.
Unlike California, where people can relocate, it doesn’t work that way here. NO rentals, no places to live.
They will have relocated 24000 tourists out of the island by end of day today. clearing the way to help the thousands of locals who are with out food, water, electric, or beds.
we live on an island, and it takes time, and massive logistics, to get things here, thru the one port.
Maui is a small place, and we all have friends and ohana who are suffering.
It will never be the same here. ever. It was magic when I moved here. That magic has been gone a long time now. This fire, and what will happen after, will destroy what ever is left of the Aloha that drew so many of us here, back in the day.
No one has faith in the current crop of so called leaders. This state has been democrat since statehood. Enough said.
The current death toll is 56 I believe. that will increase.
I hope this helps people to understand what it is like here now.
Thank you, Jim Irvine. More information than I have received from any news cast.
God bless you and your loved ones!
Jim Irvine–
Heartfelt sympathy to you and your family and friends. Is there anything that Neo’s commenters can do to help?
Donations to Maui Food Bank, can do that online. I don’t believe Red Cross uses its monies that well, to be honest. Maui Food bank is currently feeding most of the tourists and locals. Salvation army is too.
FEMA, and help from national guard and military on Oahu to supply tents etc will be forth coming.
I know there are lots of places to send your limited charity dollars. But anything helps. Thank you all in advance for your thoughts, prayers.
Mahalo for the heartfelt description of the fires and devastation, Jim Irvine.
If ever the Air Force needed to get its transport aircraft in the air, it’s now. Much in the way of needed emergency supplies can be airlifted in via a ‘Berlin Airlift” type operation. It could plug the gaps until some ships can make their way to Maai.
God bless and good luck. I just gave a donation to the Maai foodbank.
https://mauifoodbank.org/
Jim Irvine:
That is terrible terrible news, but thank you for telling the story. I hope you and yours are okay. I may put your comment up tomorrow as a post, if you don’t mind.
Mahalo JJ, much appreciated by everyone. FEMA and the military will be bringing in trucks,generators etc.
Neo, yes of course, if you want. Things are changing, percent contained, people found alive, or dead etc.
Just wanted people to know what is happening here. People often have views of Hawaii that aren’t really accurate. One good source for info is a guy on twitter. independent news guy, really good at pulling info from all over on the fire.
Steve Lookner
@lookner
I’m fine. Live in Haiku, which is on the windward side. so mostly wet and tropical.
Again, thanks so much for peoples care and concern.
JJ– Thank you for the link to the food bank; Jim– I just donated, I hope it helps.
Thanks so much to everyone who donates. I’m sure there are other charity groups for this disaster. Maui Food bank has been around long time, I trust them. online is easier than lugging bags of rice and cases of spam to the collection center, lol. anyway, thanks so much. it does matter, a great deal.
For anyone interested in the weather conditions and fire science involved in the Maui disaster, here is a video with commentary by Juan Browne, a former Air Force pilot who usually posts about aviation matters but includes weather-related events from time to time. The video is about 10 minutes long; it’s clear and straightforward with NO MSM-style editorializing about climate change:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-e3DVC07L-U&ab_channel=blancolirio
PA+Cat , Thank you for the link. really does a good job of explaining things, best I’ve seen. Nothing the news has shown comes close.
About donating online:
I got a long text today from some organization I had never heard of about chefs collecting money to bring food to the island.
They may be a legitimate charity, but I hadn’t ever donated to them to have gotten on a list with them, so it might also have been a scam.
Check out any charity before you donate.
Skip the Red Cross.
Jim Irvine, thanks for your comment, and best wishes to you and all of your family and friends at this terrible time.
AesopFan, I agree with what you said about donating to organizations you don’t know about. I did hear about something like that happening, so possible, as Maui has a lot of hotel chefs etc.
But I’m willing to bet so many end up as scams.
I’ve always given to people I know, or know a lot about. Anyway, thanks for the heads up, and your best wishes.
Jim Irvine–
You’re more than welcome; glad you found the video helpful. I agree that JB has a first-rate channel.
On a slight tangent, if you are interested in aviation safety, the YouTube “Blancolirio Channel” linked above is an excellent source. Host Juan Browne is a professional airline pilot, former military instructor, airframe and powerplant mechanic, and also involved in general aviation. He has the ability to communicate technical issues to the public very effectively.
JJ: The Oakland Hills firestorm of 1991 which killed 25 people and burned almost 3500 homes would also be blamed on climate change if it happened today.
News now is 93+ people have died. I suspect most were watering their roofs with a garden hose, not grabbing their stuff and fleeing.
Houses can be rebuilt!