Six people have been killed and at least 20 people have been seriously injured in a series of wildfires that broke out in Maui, Hawaii, and on the Big Island, according to Hawaiian officials, after heavy wind from a passing hurricane on Tuesday night.
The fires forced civilians to evacuate certain areas in Maui where the fires focused, including Lahaina, a residential and touristy area in West Maui; Kula, a residential area located inland and in the mountainous Upcountry region; and Kihei in South Maui.
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Here is everything you need to know about the Hawaiian wildfires.
Death and injury count:
Six people are dead and at least 20 people are seriously injured as a result of the fires on Maui, according to Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen, with more injuries and deaths expected as at least three fires blaze. More than 2,100 people have been displaced.
State of emergency declaration
Acting Gov. Sylvia Luke (D-HI) issued an emergency declaration for the wildfires on Tuesday night, on behalf of Gov. Josh Green (D-HI), which activated the Hawaiian Army National Guard, which has been helping the Maui Police Department. Nearly 100 firefighters have also been dispatched to help fight the fires, including 11 from state airport rescue personnel.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency also approved the state's request for a disaster declaration to provide assistance with the wildfires.
The emergency declaration was extended on Wednesday to encompass all islands and Maui air travel. Visitors to West Maui, however, are encouraged to leave the island as soon as possible so resources can go to residents.
“This is an unprecedented disaster as an indirect result of Hurricane Dora passing just south of our islands,” Luke said. “It is truly devastating, and my heart goes out to the residents of Maui and all those impacted.”
Green, who is on vacation, is expected to return from his trip early because of the fires Wednesday night.
The emergency declaration will remain in effect until Aug. 15 unless terminated earlier in a separate proclamation.
Red flag warnings remain in effect
Red flag warnings are in effect on all Hawaiian islands into Wednesday evening because of dangerous wildfire conditions.
The National Weather Service on Wednesday said that Hurricane Dora, which was located 500 miles from the islands, produced strong winds overnight. High winds in Kula had reached up to 80 mph, according to USA Today.
"These strong winds coupled with low humidity levels are producing dangerous fire weather conditions that will last through Wednesday afternoon," the National Weather Service said.
Maui fire officials have warned that a combination of erratic wind, steep slopes, dropping humidity, and difficult terrain that is mixed with the direction and the location of the fires have made it challenging to accurately predict the paths and speed of the fires.
Evacuation orders
Evacuation orders are still in effect across Maui and the Big Island as Maui's biggest fire, located in Lahaina, is still blazing. Only emergency personnel are allowed in the western region of the island.
The fires have forced residents to flee their homes and towns and even forced some islanders to jump into the Pacific Ocean to get away from the blazes. Those who jumped into the ocean have been rescued by the Coast Guard.
Luke told CNN Wednesday morning that "911 is down. Cell service is down. Phone service is down. Our hospital system on Maui, they are overburdened with burn patients, people suffering from inhalation. The reality is that we need to fly people out of Maui to give them burn support because Maui hospital cannot do extensive burn treatment.”
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Evacuation centers and emergency shelters have been set up in multiple places along the island, including at public schools that have been closed because of the emergency. One evacuation center held 1,200 people.
Airports have also encouraged residents to cancel "nonessential" travel as Kahului houses 1,800 travelers whose flights have been delayed or canceled because of the fires and weather conditions.