The most destructive wildfire sparked on Tuesday amid tropical storm winds near the historic town of Lahaina. Front Street, a spot popular with tourists to the island, is suspected to be heavily damaged. Flames moved so quickly on Tuesday that at least a dozen people were forced to jump into the ocean to shelter from the blaze.
Fire crews on Maui were battling multiple blazes concentrated in two areas: the popular tourist destination of West Maui and an inland, mountainous region. In the Kula area of Maui, at least two homes were destroyed in a fire that engulfed about 1,100 acres (1.7 square miles), Maui Mayor Richard Bissen said. About 80 people were evacuated from 40 homes, he said.