Coast Guard Responding to Hawaii Wildfires; Help Available for Coast Guard Members Impacted

Update August 15, 2023:

According to the Coast Guard, service members are shifting resources to address maritime environmental response and recovery.

A total of 17 lives were saved from the water and 40 survivors were located ashore by Coast Guard Station Maui boat crews. The Coast Guard has no current reports of missing persons in the water, however Coast Guard aircrews and surface assets continue search and rescue operations. Coast Guard first responders also continue to work with partners on the national, state and local levels to aid in the response.

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Original Story, August 10, 2023:

U.S. Coast Guard and partner agencies across the local, state, and federal governments are actively responding to wildfires in Hawaii. Currently, fires are active on Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii.

The National Weather Service reported that the fires were fueled by a combination of dry conditions, strong winds from nearby Hurricane Dora, and low humidity.

In a statement, Capt. Aja L. Kirksey, Commander of Coast Guard Sector Honolulu said,

"On behalf of the U.S. Coast Guard, I wish to convey my sincere condolences to the communities who have been tragically affected by the fires in Maui. Our collaboration with partner agencies and neighboring jurisdictions remains steadfast, as we unite our resources, knowledge, and equipment to ensure responder and public safety and amplify the impact of our response efforts.”

Coast Guard Responds

On Tuesday, August 9, a crew from Station Maui arrived on-scene to rescue 14 people who entered the Pacific Ocean to escape fire and smoke near Lahaina, Maui.

Coast Guard Sector Honolulu personnel, as well as assets from Air Station Barbers Point, the Coast Guard Cutter Kimball and the Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Gerczak are deployed to the area to provide additional rescue resources.

Help for Coast Guard Members Impacted by Hawaii Wildfires

Hawaii is home to many active-duty Coast Guard members, and help is available to those impacted by the wildfires for emergency travel expenses, home repairs, replacement of household goods, and insurance deductibles.

Each year, the Coast Guard Foundation activates its emergency disaster relief program to asssist Coast Guard members impacted by natural disasters all across the country. To help with our response in Hawaii and future disasters, donate now.

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Photos by U.S. Coast Guard, courtesy U.S. Coast Guard Hawaii Pacific Facebook post.