The U.S. Coast Guard and the Navy’s 3rd Fleet are offering support to first responders in Hawaii fighting against the roaring blazes that have created a crisis on the Pacific island.
President Biden, who declared a national emergency disaster in Hawaii on Thursday, also said the Army has supplied Black Hawk helicopters to assist responders.
The Hawaiian National Guard mobilized Chinook helicopters to help with search-and-rescue efforts and fire suppression.
“Jill and I send our deepest condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones in the wildfires in Maui,” Biden said in a Wednesday statement, “and our prayers are with those who have seen their homes, businesses, and communities destroyed.”
The exact cause of the wildfires is unknown, but Hurricane Dora has fanned the fires on Maui, channeling strong winds and creating a drier atmosphere ripe for fiery and hot conditions.
In addition to the deaths, dozens of people have been injured and at least 271 structures have been damaged or destroyed.
Among the devastated areas is the historic town of Lahaina, which was named the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1802 and served as the seat of government for 50 years.
Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen Jr. said the island is being “tested like never before in our lifetime.”
“With lives lost and properties decimated, we are grieving with each other in this inconsolable time,” the mayor said.
Biden’s disaster declaration opens the door for more federal funding to support Hawaii as it battles the conflagration.
That includes grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses.
