Photo:Zeke Kalua/County of Maui via AP

This photo provided by County of Maui shows fire and smoke filling the sky from wildfires on the intersection at Hokiokio Place and Lahaina Bypass in Maui, Hawaii

Zeke Kalua/County of Maui via AP

Six people have been confirmed dead after a string of wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui on Tuesday.

The blaze swept through coastal Lahaina, a town that dates back to the 1700s and is on the National Register of Historic Places, according to theAssociated Press.

Bissen did not confirm the total number of injuries reported so far, but the AP reports “at least” 20 people were taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center while six others were flown out of Maui onto the island of Oahu, according to Speedy Bailey, regional director for Hawaii Life Flight, an air-ambulance company.

Of those six, three people had critical burns and were taken to Straub Medical Center’s burn unit, per the outlet.

Bissen said during the news conference three fires — which were ongoing — caused 13 evacuations from different neighborhoods, 16 road closures, and the opening of five shelters. He also stressed that there have been “many dwellings, businesses, [and] structures that have been burned to the ground.”

The updates come after Hawaii Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, who iscurrently acting on behalf of Gov. Josh Green, issued “anemergency proclamationto activate the National Guard and authorize appropriate emergency actions to respond to the wildfires in Maui and Hawaiʻi Counties.”

Green provided his own update in apress releaseon Wednesday, stating they had been in “constant contact” with Luke and the White House to “prepare for what will inevitably be a request for emergency federal assistance.”

Ronit Fahl/ZUMA Press

A wildfire burns creating heavy smoke on Maui, Hawaii

“The White House has been incredibly supportive and we expect to submit a request for a Presidential Disaster Declaration in the next 36 to 48 hours, once we know how vast the damage is," the release read. “Our state appreciates the incredible outpouring of concern and prayers from the mainland. We won’t forget the aloha you have already begun to share with us."

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The damaging winds over Maui came as Hurricane Dora, a category 4 storm, hit 500 miles south of Hawaii,the National Weather Service said. Forecasters said “wind speeds will continue to trend lower” Wednesday and Thursday as the hurricane moves further from the island.

source: people.com