Nearly four months after the Lahaina fire that devastated Maui — which left 100 people dead and 6,000 still homeless — scientists have introduced a new theory behind the cause of the deadliest wildfire in U.S. history.
The theory debunks previous assumptions that linked the wildfire to nearby Hurricane Dora, which devastated the island.
According to laboratory models, the wildfire was actually sparked by the same meteorological phenomenon responsible for California's most damaging wildfires: a downburst storm.
Video footage documenting the fire revealed a wind-driven firestorm, but a power outage during the storm left scientists unsure of the factors causing the destruction.
Atmospheric researchers have now simulated weather and fire trends in western Maui on August 8 to better understand what made the Lahaina fire so destructive.
Nearly four months after the Lahaina fire that devastated Maui – which left 100 people dead and 6,000 still homeless – scientists have introduced a new theory behind the cause of the deadliest wildfire in U.S. history
According to laboratory models, the wildfire was actually sparked by the same meteorological phenomenon responsible for California's most damaging wildfires: a downburst storm. The photo shows the debris of an oceanfront house
An aerial view shows destroyed homes and buildings burned to the ground around the harbor and Front Street in the historic town of Lahaina in the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui, Hawaii
In Lahaina, the main cause of the devastating fires was a strong high-pressure system north of Hawaii that strengthened the easterly trade winds, researchers said.
When those winds encountered high mountains in West Maui, they accelerated as they moved downhill, reaching hurricane force in Lahaina. This pattern is known as a downstorm.
Small changes in usual summer weather could lead to severe fire conditions in Maui.
Simulations from the University of Nevada-Reno and the State University of New York at Buffalo indicated that sustained winds in Lahaina on August 8 were near 80 mph, with occasional gusts possibly exceeding 90 mph.
Studies from the University of Hawaii and the University of Washington also simulated similar wind speeds.
Cliff Mass, a professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Washington who simulated the Maui event, said the combination of flammable fuels, strong winds and an ignition source is a recurring recipe for devastating fires.
“There's a real story here for Californians because what happened in Maui, what happened in the Marshall Fire, what happened in Paradise … they're all the same,” Mass told the San Fransisco Chronicle.
The search for the wreckage on Maui on Thursday revealed a wasteland of burned homes and destroyed communities as firefighters battled the stubborn blaze, making it the deadliest in the U.S. in recent years.
The burned wreckage of a boat is seen Thursday, August 10, in Lahaina, Hawaii
Where houses once stood are now ash and cinders. Thousands have lost their homes and hundreds are missing 48 hours after the fires
An aerial view of Lahaina after wildfires burned through the town on the Hawaiian island of Maui on August 10
An aerial view shows the historic banyan tree along with destroyed homes, boats and buildings burned to the ground in the historic town of Lahaina in the aftermath of wildfires in western Maui, Hawaii, on August 10
Aerial view of the community of Lahaina
The situation in Lahaina included a wet winter followed by a dry summer, which caused grasses to grow exceptionally in the spring, creating dense fuels ready to burn.
Similar conditions are common in California, where winter rains lead to grass growth before drying out in the summer and fall.
California winds, such as the Santa Anas in Southern California and Diablos in the Bay Area, usually occur in the fall when dry grass increases fire risk.
Officials said in August that 271 buildings had been damaged or destroyed and dozens of people had been injured.
Nearly 6,200 people are still struggling to find housing as their beloved town of Maui tries to rebuild.
According to the American Red Cross, the housing emergency has increased. Thousands are desperate to find a home after being stuck in 33 hotels.
Among them is a retiree who moved repeatedly between shelters with a family of five and struggled with the challenge of meeting costs, the newspaper said. WashingtonPost.
Wildfire wreckage is shown on August 10
Shell-shocked Maui residents survey the damage from a wildfire that claimed 36 lives Tuesday evening
People gather Wednesday while waiting for flights at Kahului Airport. Several thousand residents rushed to flee their homes on Maui as fires raged across the island
Others are living in unlicensed rental properties until the end of the month, after which financial restrictions are likely to drive them from the islands.
Many people are also camping on the beach and advocating for sustainable housing solutions for the fire survivors.
A 25-year Lahaina resident plans to move to Florida with her husband, mother, two children and three dogs so insurance payments on their destroyed home will last longer.
“This is the saddest Christmas we'll ever have,” Amy Chadwick told the Washington Post. “We are the first phase of a mass exodus. If nothing changes, thousands and thousands of people will leave.”
Wildfire, local, state and federal government agencies have been working tirelessly to find solutions to the escalating housing crisis, but many residents told the outlet they feel they have failed to act quickly enough.