Biden declares Hawaii wildfires a major disaster

President Joe Biden approved a major disaster declaration for Hawaii on Thursday, freeing up federal aid to support the island of Maui's recovery from wildfires that have brought vast destruction and killed at least 53 people.

Federal funds can be used for various initiatives to help impacted communities, including grants for temporary housing and home repairs as well as low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, according to the White House.

Biden said Thursday that he had an extensive phone call with Hawaii Gov. Josh Green Thursday morning, assuring him of his commitment to ensuring the state receives “everything it needs from the federal government.”

"Anyone who's lost a loved one, whose home has been damaged or destroyed is going to get help immediately,” Biden said while delivering remarks about the anniversary of the PACT Act in Utah. “We're working as quickly as possible to fight these fires and evacuate residents and tourists. In the meantime, our prayers are with the people of Hawaii. But not just our prayers: Every asset we have will be available to them.”

Powerful wildfires unexpectedly ignited Tuesday in the historic town of Lahaina on Maui island. The extensive blaze, which has been intensified by powerful winds from Hurricane Dora, has led to mass evacuations and widespread power outages, impacting thousands.

“Jill and I send our deepest condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones in the wildfires in Maui, and our prayers are with those who have seen their homes, businesses, and communities destroyed,” Biden said in a statement Wednesday evening. “We are grateful to the brave firefighters and first responders who continue to run toward danger, putting themselves in harm’s way to save lives.”

That same day, the president directed “all available Federal assets” to help local efforts responding to the wildfires. Biden added that the U.S. Coast Guard and Navy fleets would bolster rescue operations following reports of residents jumping into Lahaina harbor to seek refuge from the fire and smoke. The U.S. Marines were also supplying helicopters to battle the flames, while the Department of Transportation was partnering with airlines to safely evacuate tourists from the Big Island, he said.

Biden’s declaration came a day after Hawaii’s congressional delegation sent a letter urging him to “expedite all federal assistance possible” to support the response to the wildfires.

Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) thanked the president for moving forward on his declaration Thursday.

“Recovering from these devastating fires will take significant time and resources, and we need all the federal support we can get,” Schatz said in a statement. “It will unlock federal resources and help our state and county governments respond to and recover from these fires and help the people of Maui and Hawaii island.”