Hawaii wildfires kill at least 6 people and destroy homes on Maui

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Fires in Hawaii are unlike many of those burning in the U.S. West. They tend to break out in large grasslands on the dry sides of the islands and are generally much smaller than mainland fires.

Fires were rare in Hawaii and on other tropical islands before humans arrived, and native ecosystems evolved without them. This means great environmental damage can occur when fires erupt. For example, fires remove vegetation. When a fire is followed by heavy rainfall, the rain can carry loose soil into the ocean, where it can smother coral reefs.

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ENVIRONMENT
Hawaii's lawmakers mull imposing fees to pay for ecotourism crush
A major fire on the Big Island in 2021 burned homes and forced thousands to evacuate.

The island of Oahu, where Honolulu is located, also was dealing with power outages, downed power lines and traffic problems, said Adam Weintraub, communication director for Hawaii Emergency Management Agency.

Lahaina is often thought of just a Maui tourist town, Lawrence said, but "we have a very strong Hawaiian community."

"I'm just heartbroken. Everywhere, our memories," she said. "Everyone's homes. Everyone's lives have tragically changed in the last 12 hours."

Excellent post. Thank You for sharing this shipmate. This is saddening.