Maui volunteers formed human chains at Maalaea Harbor to transfer infant formula, diapers, clothes, fuel and other supplies onto boats for Lahaina residents, who have been most hurt by the wildfires that have ravaged Hawaii
MAALAEA, Hawaii, Aug 11 - The death toll from the Maui wildfires rose to 80 on Friday as search teams combed through the smoldering ruins of Lahaina, and Hawaiian officials sought to determine how the inferno spread so rapidly through the historic resort town with little warning.
Three days after the disaster, it remained unclear whether some residents had received any warning before the fire engulfed their homes. Green described multiple, simultaneous challenges, with telecommunications down and firefighters concentrating on other major wildfires when the greatest threat to Lahaina arose.
County Mayor Richard Bissen told NBC's "Today" show on Friday that he did not know whether sirens went off but said the fire moved extraordinarily quickly.The disaster began unfolding just after midnight on Tuesday when a brush fire was reported in the town of Kula, roughly 35 miles from Lahaina. About five hours later that morning, power was knocked out in Lahaina, according to residents.
Some witnesses said they had little advance notice, describing their terror when the blaze consumed Lahaina in what seemed to be a matter of minutes. Several people were forced to leap into the Pacific Ocean to save themselves.
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