Maui authorities on Tuesday will begin releasing the names of some of the people who died in the Lahaina fire, a week after the ferocious blaze incinerated the historic town in what has become the nation’s deadliest wildfire in a century.
Officials said Monday night the death toll had climbed to 99 and is expected to rise. About 25% of the burn area has been searched. More than 90 workers with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and 20 cadaver dogs are leading the search through the ash and rubble, authorities said.
About 1,300 people are still unaccounted for, Gov. Josh Green said. Crews are likely to find the remains of 10 to 20 people each day until search efforts cease, Green said, which he estimated could take 10 days. The governor told “CBS Evening News” on Monday night that the remains of the first 80 victims were found in their cars or the surrounding water.
Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said only three of the nearly 100 victims have been identified, all by fingerprints. Mayor Richard Bissen Jr. has urged families looking for loved ones to submit DNA swabs to assist with the identification process.
The Lahaina fire was 85% contained Monday night, officials said. Maui County Fire Chief Bradford Ventura said helicopters would fly the fire’s perimeter, which had mostly cooled, Tuesday morning looking for hot spots.
More than 2,700 structures were destroyed — the majority of them Lahaina residences — with an estimated damage of $5.6 billion. Moody’s analytics estimates the economic loss at $7 billion, with most of that property damage, and up to $1 billion reflecting lost output.
Green warned residents to beware of real estate developers swooping in to scoop up property from the ruined neighborhoods and exploit local homeowners with lowball deals and cash offers. He said he’s asked the attorney general to look into creating a temporary moratorium on buying or selling property damaged by the fires.
About 2,000 people remained without power Monday night on Western Maui, according to Shelee Kimura, CEO of Hawaiian Electric, which provides service to 95% of the state. The company is facing scrutiny for its failure to preemptively shut off power as dangerous winds stirred up by Hurricane Dora blew through western Maui.
The practice, called a public safety power shutoff, is common in many states, including California. Utilities may temporarily turn off power to specific areas to reduce the risk of fires caused by electric infrastructure.
When asked why Hawaiian Electric did not shut off power, Kimura said: “It’s still in the early days; we’re still looking at all the information.”
She said the power shut-off programs are “controversial” even in states where they are used, and the practice is “not universally accepted.”
The company already is facing two class-action lawsuits from Maui residents alleging it did not cut off power early enough after severe weather notices were issued.
Hawaiian Electric spokesperson Darren Pai declined to comment on the lawsuits. “Our immediate focus is on supporting emergency response efforts on Maui and restoring power for our customers and communities as quickly as possible,” Pai wrote in an email to The Times.
Authorities have not determined the cause of the fire but have said hurricane-force winds fanned the flames, pushing them to travel one mile per minute. Green ordered the state’s attorney general to investigate the fire and how prepared the state was to handle the disaster.
About 3,200 people had signed up for FEMA disaster assistance by late Monday afternoon, said Jeremy Greenberg, the agency’s director of operations for response and recovery. Some who were displaced by the fire are staying in hotels paid for by the government, Greenberg said. Airbnb and other rental groups also are providing housing.
The support comes as tensions over recovery efforts grow, with many in western Maui criticizing what they call a slow government response. Access to Lahaina has been restricted since Green initially announced last week that residents could return to certain areas during designated hours. But constraints have expanded, frustrating residents who say they are desperate to assess the damage to their homes and gather any belongings that were not destroyed.
Lahaina and Upper Kula, a rural area where a fire broke out last week, remain under a water advisory. Survivors who stayed behind have criticized the government’s distribution of critical supplies. Many say they are relying on local groups and volunteers to fill the gaps.
The Maui Police Department suspended a placard program that allowed access to those with proof of residency, area hotel resort staff and first responders hours after launching it Sunday, citing a flood of “non-essential individuals” and non-residents in the areas that had been opened.
Maui authorities on Tuesday will begin releasing the names of some of the people who died in the Lahaina fire, a week after the ferocious blaze incinerated the historic town in what has become the nation’s deadliest wildfire in a century.
Officials said Monday night the death toll had climbed to 99 and is expected to rise. About 25% of the burn area has been searched. More than 90 workers with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and 20 cadaver dogs are leading the search through the ash and rubble, authorities said.
About 1,300 people are still unaccounted for, Gov. Josh Green said. Crews are likely to find the remains of 10 to 20 people each day until search efforts cease, Green said, which he estimated could take 10 days. The governor told “CBS Evening News” on Monday night that the remains of the first 80 victims were found in their cars or the surrounding water.
Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said only three of the nearly 100 victims have been identified, all by fingerprints. Mayor Richard Bissen Jr. has urged families looking for loved ones to submit DNA swabs to assist with the identification process.
The Lahaina fire was 85% contained Monday night, officials said. Maui County Fire Chief Bradford Ventura said helicopters would fly the fire’s perimeter, which had mostly cooled, Tuesday morning looking for hot spots.
More than 2,700 structures were destroyed — the majority of them Lahaina residences — with an estimated damage of $5.6 billion. Moody’s analytics estimates the economic loss at $7 billion, with most of that property damage, and up to $1 billion reflecting lost output.
Green warned residents to beware of real estate developers swooping in to scoop up property from the ruined neighborhoods and exploit local homeowners with lowball deals and cash offers. He said he’s asked the attorney general to look into creating a temporary moratorium on buying or selling property damaged by the fires.
About 2,000 people remained without power Monday night on Western Maui, according to Shelee Kimura, CEO of Hawaiian Electric, which provides service to 95% of the state. The company is facing scrutiny for its failure to preemptively shut off power as dangerous winds stirred up by Hurricane Dora blew through western Maui.
The practice, called a public safety power shutoff, is common in many states, including California. Utilities may temporarily turn off power to specific areas to reduce the risk of fires caused by electric infrastructure.
When asked why Hawaiian Electric did not shut off power, Kimura said: “It’s still in the early days; we’re still looking at all the information.”
She said the power shut-off programs are “controversial” even in states where they are used, and the practice is “not universally accepted.”
The company already is facing two class-action lawsuits from Maui residents alleging it did not cut off power early enough after severe weather notices were issued.
Hawaiian Electric spokesperson Darren Pai declined to comment on the lawsuits. “Our immediate focus is on supporting emergency response efforts on Maui and restoring power for our customers and communities as quickly as possible,” Pai wrote in an email to The Times.
Authorities have not determined the cause of the fire but have said hurricane-force winds fanned the flames, pushing them to travel one mile per minute. Green ordered the state’s attorney general to investigate the fire and how prepared the state was to handle the disaster.
About 3,200 people had signed up for FEMA disaster assistance by late Monday afternoon, said Jeremy Greenberg, the agency’s director of operations for response and recovery. Some who were displaced by the fire are staying in hotels paid for by the government, Greenberg said. Airbnb and other rental groups also are providing housing.
The support comes as tensions over recovery efforts grow, with many in western Maui criticizing what they call a slow government response. Access to Lahaina has been restricted since Green initially announced last week that residents could return to certain areas during designated hours. But constraints have expanded, frustrating residents who say they are desperate to assess the damage to their homes and gather any belongings that were not destroyed.
Lahaina and Upper Kula, a rural area where a fire broke out last week, remain under a water advisory. Survivors who stayed behind have criticized the government’s distribution of critical supplies. Many say they are relying on local groups and volunteers to fill the gaps.
The Maui Police Department suspended a placard program that allowed access to those with proof of residency, area hotel resort staff and first responders hours after launching it Sunday, citing a flood of “non-essential individuals” and non-residents in the areas that had been opened.
Maui authorities on Tuesday will begin releasing the names of some of the people who died in the Lahaina fire, a week after the ferocious blaze incinerated the historic town in what has become the nation’s deadliest wildfire in a century.
Officials said Monday night the death toll had climbed to 99 and is expected to rise. About 25% of the burn area has been searched. More than 90 workers with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and 20 cadaver dogs are leading the search through the ash and rubble, authorities said.
About 1,300 people are still unaccounted for, Gov. Josh Green said. Crews are likely to find the remains of 10 to 20 people each day until search efforts cease, Green said, which he estimated could take 10 days. The governor told “CBS Evening News” on Monday night that the remains of the first 80 victims were found in their cars or the surrounding water.
Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said only three of the nearly 100 victims have been identified, all by fingerprints. Mayor Richard Bissen Jr. has urged families looking for loved ones to submit DNA swabs to assist with the identification process.
The Lahaina fire was 85% contained Monday night, officials said. Maui County Fire Chief Bradford Ventura said helicopters would fly the fire’s perimeter, which had mostly cooled, Tuesday morning looking for hot spots.
More than 2,700 structures were destroyed — the majority of them Lahaina residences — with an estimated damage of $5.6 billion. Moody’s analytics estimates the economic loss at $7 billion, with most of that property damage, and up to $1 billion reflecting lost output.
Green warned residents to beware of real estate developers swooping in to scoop up property from the ruined neighborhoods and exploit local homeowners with lowball deals and cash offers. He said he’s asked the attorney general to look into creating a temporary moratorium on buying or selling property damaged by the fires.
About 2,000 people remained without power Monday night on Western Maui, according to Shelee Kimura, CEO of Hawaiian Electric, which provides service to 95% of the state. The company is facing scrutiny for its failure to preemptively shut off power as dangerous winds stirred up by Hurricane Dora blew through western Maui.
The practice, called a public safety power shutoff, is common in many states, including California. Utilities may temporarily turn off power to specific areas to reduce the risk of fires caused by electric infrastructure.
When asked why Hawaiian Electric did not shut off power, Kimura said: “It’s still in the early days; we’re still looking at all the information.”
She said the power shut-off programs are “controversial” even in states where they are used, and the practice is “not universally accepted.”
The company already is facing two class-action lawsuits from Maui residents alleging it did not cut off power early enough after severe weather notices were issued.
Hawaiian Electric spokesperson Darren Pai declined to comment on the lawsuits. “Our immediate focus is on supporting emergency response efforts on Maui and restoring power for our customers and communities as quickly as possible,” Pai wrote in an email to The Times.
Authorities have not determined the cause of the fire but have said hurricane-force winds fanned the flames, pushing them to travel one mile per minute. Green ordered the state’s attorney general to investigate the fire and how prepared the state was to handle the disaster.
About 3,200 people had signed up for FEMA disaster assistance by late Monday afternoon, said Jeremy Greenberg, the agency’s director of operations for response and recovery. Some who were displaced by the fire are staying in hotels paid for by the government, Greenberg said. Airbnb and other rental groups also are providing housing.
The support comes as tensions over recovery efforts grow, with many in western Maui criticizing what they call a slow government response. Access to Lahaina has been restricted since Green initially announced last week that residents could return to certain areas during designated hours. But constraints have expanded, frustrating residents who say they are desperate to assess the damage to their homes and gather any belongings that were not destroyed.
Lahaina and Upper Kula, a rural area where a fire broke out last week, remain under a water advisory. Survivors who stayed behind have criticized the government’s distribution of critical supplies. Many say they are relying on local groups and volunteers to fill the gaps.
The Maui Police Department suspended a placard program that allowed access to those with proof of residency, area hotel resort staff and first responders hours after launching it Sunday, citing a flood of “non-essential individuals” and non-residents in the areas that had been opened.
Maui authorities on Tuesday will begin releasing the names of some of the people who died in the Lahaina fire, a week after the ferocious blaze incinerated the historic town in what has become the nation’s deadliest wildfire in a century.
Officials said Monday night the death toll had climbed to 99 and is expected to rise. About 25% of the burn area has been searched. More than 90 workers with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and 20 cadaver dogs are leading the search through the ash and rubble, authorities said.
About 1,300 people are still unaccounted for, Gov. Josh Green said. Crews are likely to find the remains of 10 to 20 people each day until search efforts cease, Green said, which he estimated could take 10 days. The governor told “CBS Evening News” on Monday night that the remains of the first 80 victims were found in their cars or the surrounding water.
Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said only three of the nearly 100 victims have been identified, all by fingerprints. Mayor Richard Bissen Jr. has urged families looking for loved ones to submit DNA swabs to assist with the identification process.
The Lahaina fire was 85% contained Monday night, officials said. Maui County Fire Chief Bradford Ventura said helicopters would fly the fire’s perimeter, which had mostly cooled, Tuesday morning looking for hot spots.
More than 2,700 structures were destroyed — the majority of them Lahaina residences — with an estimated damage of $5.6 billion. Moody’s analytics estimates the economic loss at $7 billion, with most of that property damage, and up to $1 billion reflecting lost output.
Green warned residents to beware of real estate developers swooping in to scoop up property from the ruined neighborhoods and exploit local homeowners with lowball deals and cash offers. He said he’s asked the attorney general to look into creating a temporary moratorium on buying or selling property damaged by the fires.
About 2,000 people remained without power Monday night on Western Maui, according to Shelee Kimura, CEO of Hawaiian Electric, which provides service to 95% of the state. The company is facing scrutiny for its failure to preemptively shut off power as dangerous winds stirred up by Hurricane Dora blew through western Maui.
The practice, called a public safety power shutoff, is common in many states, including California. Utilities may temporarily turn off power to specific areas to reduce the risk of fires caused by electric infrastructure.
When asked why Hawaiian Electric did not shut off power, Kimura said: “It’s still in the early days; we’re still looking at all the information.”
She said the power shut-off programs are “controversial” even in states where they are used, and the practice is “not universally accepted.”
The company already is facing two class-action lawsuits from Maui residents alleging it did not cut off power early enough after severe weather notices were issued.
Hawaiian Electric spokesperson Darren Pai declined to comment on the lawsuits. “Our immediate focus is on supporting emergency response efforts on Maui and restoring power for our customers and communities as quickly as possible,” Pai wrote in an email to The Times.
Authorities have not determined the cause of the fire but have said hurricane-force winds fanned the flames, pushing them to travel one mile per minute. Green ordered the state’s attorney general to investigate the fire and how prepared the state was to handle the disaster.
About 3,200 people had signed up for FEMA disaster assistance by late Monday afternoon, said Jeremy Greenberg, the agency’s director of operations for response and recovery. Some who were displaced by the fire are staying in hotels paid for by the government, Greenberg said. Airbnb and other rental groups also are providing housing.
The support comes as tensions over recovery efforts grow, with many in western Maui criticizing what they call a slow government response. Access to Lahaina has been restricted since Green initially announced last week that residents could return to certain areas during designated hours. But constraints have expanded, frustrating residents who say they are desperate to assess the damage to their homes and gather any belongings that were not destroyed.
Lahaina and Upper Kula, a rural area where a fire broke out last week, remain under a water advisory. Survivors who stayed behind have criticized the government’s distribution of critical supplies. Many say they are relying on local groups and volunteers to fill the gaps.
The Maui Police Department suspended a placard program that allowed access to those with proof of residency, area hotel resort staff and first responders hours after launching it Sunday, citing a flood of “non-essential individuals” and non-residents in the areas that had been opened.
