Residents in Lahaina, Hawaii recall frightening experiences after devastating wildfires reduced homes and businesses in the historic town to ashes.
Thousands are without power due to wildfires and strong winds in Maui, Hawaii. Some video was provided to USA TODAY with blurring by Storyful per their privacy policies.Lahaina, Hawaii, resident Jordan Saribay can't shake the image of his beloved hometown engulfed in flame from his head. But he's fortunate he and his family escaped the inferno alive, having merely lost items that can be replaced — including his home.
And the flames grew much faster than anyone could have imagined. In a few hours, the wind-driven blaze tore through popular Front Street and decimated a town center that traced its roots to the 1700s and was on the National Register of Historic Places. When he made it out, Saribay felt a pang of emotion seeing Lahaina in his rear-view mirror, wondering what would be left to go back to."Just praying that a miracle happens,' he said.Maui wildfires leave wake of devastation in Hawaii. How you can donate or volunteer.Heidi Denecke, owner of the Maui Animal Farm, spent Tuesday night awake in her truck at her farm in Lahaina watching the fires with friends before being evacuated early Wednesday.
"I was standing at the top of my driveway and [the fire] was right below us and it was so frightening," Denecke said."This fire — it just hit so fast, and it devastated a lot of people. We didn't really get a chance to get things set up because it came on so fast."
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