National News: Wildfire on Maui
Hawaii Devastated by Wildfire
By Javier Dominguez-Trejo
On August 8, 2023, a destructive wildfire struck Maui, Hawaii. Homes, land, and Maui inhabitants were devastated by the flames.
The Human Impact
The wildfire in Hawaii has left carnage in its path of destruction, devastating humanity. According to Reuters, there are at least 97 registered people dead due to these wildfires. This wildfire has killed many people. A number of people lost family members during this wildfire. It has caused a lot of pain in the hearts of various people. When news of the fire first broke on August 8, 2023, national news service Reuters reported at least 31 missing due to the fire. This wildfire is leaving carnage and is leaving people grieving.
Reuters also reports that this wildfire has left at least 20 non-fatal injuries. The injuries could be burns suffered and smoke inhalation. The most destructive wildfire of the century has destroyed homes and ecosystems in Maui. There will be some Short-term effects that will show on the human lifestyle of the people that were affected. Long-term effects include trauma, which may manifest itself in the future when victims of the fire encounter other wildfires or something so simple as a campfire, in some cases, they will forever remember what they had to live through.
This wildfire has changed Maui in unimaginable ways, some not even imaginable and it took a lot of people by surprise. It’s not only native Hawaiians who have strong emotions about the fire. GHS Math Teacher Juan Perez who has been to Hawaii in the past said “I am saddened by what is happening in Hawaii and my thoughts and prayers are with the families that have been affected by this. Perez adds “When I first heard about the wildfires, I was in disbelief that it was happening. I was shocked because I have been to Hawaii, so I feel I have more of a personal connection to the people of Hawaii.”
“It is contributing to a problem of people being homeless, of people who have been living there for many generations not being able to afford to live there anymore.” This wildfire could harm businesses, especially those that depend on crops devastated by the fire.
The Environmental Devastation of Hawaii
This destructive wildfire has devastated the Maui environment including rainforests and animals native specifically to the island. Reuters reports that this fire has devastated 3200 acres of land in Maui. According to Animal Survival International “Some wild animals are resilient to natural disasters and have the ability to flee at the first signs of danger, like elk and mountain lions. However, they will have no home to return to – and with almost all of their natural habitat gone, they face starvation, dehydration, and displacement.” Animal Survival International also reported “Other wild animals – particularly the very young, very old, or slow-moving like tortoises – are not able to escape quickly and are at huge risk. These animals are often found badly burnt, dehydrated, or struggling to breathe due to smoke inhalation.” Aside from the harm to the animals, a lot of pollution has come into the air. Wildfires release a heavy amount of Carbon Dioxide which is bad for the environment. Weather conditions and plant life changes can also lead to wildfires. The National Integrated Drought Information System reports that drought can contribute greatly to wildfires.
NBC News states that “The catastrophic wildfires in Hawaii that have killed at least 96 people in Maui and reduced much of a historic seaside town to ash were fueled by severe drought conditions”. Also, the U.S Department of Interior Invasive says that “plants such as cheatgrass, buffelgrass, and salt cedar can fuel wildfires, accelerate their spread, and increase the likelihood of unusually severe wildfires.” G.H.S. Math teacher, Juan Perez tells our reporters that when he first heard about the Maui wildfire, he “thought that a volcano or someone did something and that is how the wildfire started. The articles that I have read indicate that it was the dry weather and hurricane winds that caused the fires.”
There is no telling how long it will take for the environment to go back to how it was before. In the wildfires 3 years on the west side of the valley by Las Palmas, the hills barely have very little vegetation and that is after a wet season. The land may never be the same again, it may never be able to produce crops like it used to, or it may not be of use for any agricultural means anymore. Once again, The Bruin’s Eye asked G.H.S. teacher Juan Perez to weigh in about how long he thought it would take for the land to get back to how it was before the fire. Perez answers “It has been over a month, and the fire is at 85% containment but still a lot of damage is being done. I think it can take months or even years to restore everything. Things might not be the same way they once were but hopefully, the community and politicians can help.”