Lahaina wildfire victim dies from burns; Death toll at 111
Aug. 17—Editors' Note: Please bookmark this page. This breaking news story will be updated as more information becomes available.
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UPDATE: 10 a.m.
One of nine patients from Maui admitted to Straub Medical Center's Burn Unit in Honolulu since the Aug. 8 Lahaina wildfire died just before midnight Tuesday, according to the Honolulu Department of the Medical Examiner.
He was identified as Kirk Carter, 44, of Lahaina.
Maui County officials on Wednesday set the death toll from the wildfire at 111, with many more victims expected to be recovered as the search area expands beyond the 38% of the 5-square-mile disaster zone already covered by the 40 cadaver dogs flown to Maui by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The Maui Police Department has named five of the dead whose families have been notified, all of them Lahaina residents: Melva Benjamin, 71; Virginia Dofa, 90; Alfredo Galinato, 79; Robert Dyckman, 74; and Buddy Jantoc, 79.
EARLIER COVERAGE
The death toll from the Aug. 8 Lahaina wildfire climbed to 111 Wednesday and efforts to find and identify more victims continue today with more than 40 search teams with cadaver-detecting dogs working in the leveled historic town.
Over 1,000 people remain missing or unaccounted for on Maui, according to Gov. Josh Green.
Maui County said today that the road to Lahaina remains open to all motorists from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, while late-night access from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. is limited to West Maui residents, first responders and West Maui employees. The Maui Police Department will cite and tow vehicles parked at the Lahaina Bypass Road, where there are no-parking signs, officials said.
As of Wednesday night, the Maui Fire Department said the Lahaina wildfire is 89% contained, having burned an estimated 2,170 acres and destroying more than 2,000 structures.
In other MFD brushfire updates, the Olinda fire is 85% contained with 1,081 acres charred; the Kula fire is 80% contained after burning 202 acres; and the Pulehu/Kihei fire remains 100% contained.
There are no active threats at this time, MFD said.
Hawaiian Electric reported Wednesday that power has been restored to more than 80% of customers who have been without electricity since the disaster, including to the Lahaina Civic Center.
About 2,000 customers in West Maui were still without electricity as of Wednesday. The company has over 400 employees and contractors from Maui, Oahu, Hawaii Island, Molokai and Lanai working to restore power to West Maui where hundreds of utility poles were damaged or destroyed by the Aug. 8-9 wind and fire storm.
Emergency shelters remaining open today are: Hannibal Tavares Community Center, in Pukalani; War Memorial Gymnasium, Wailuku; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Kahului; Kings Cathedral Church, Kahului; Grace Bible Church, Kahului; and South Maui Community Park Gymnasium, Kihei. All six shelters have an internet connection.
Officials said county emergency supply distribution sites include the Lahaina Gateway Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Napili Plaza around the clock for food, water and other needs and supplies.
Fuels/Minit Stop on Keawe Street in Lahaina, Shell on Kapunakea Street in Lahaina, Texaco Gas Station in Honokowai and Kahana Gateway Shell are open for gasoline, Maui County said.
