San Francisco Mayor Was On Maui During Deadly Wildfires

MAUI, HI — San Francisco Mayor London Breed was on Maui when the deadly and destructive wildfires started Tuesday, according to her office.

The fire had claimed at least 36 lives and destroyed or damaged 271 structures, officials said Wednesday. The mayor was on the island for a personal trip but left for Oahu after acting Gov. Sylvia Luke issued an emergency proclamation and urged visitors to depart, a spokesperson for Breed’s office said.

“The Mayor was never in danger,” Press Secretary Parisa Safarzadeh said in an email. “This wildfire is devastating to witness and our thoughts are with the people of Maui.”

Fueled by a dry summer and strong winds from a passing hurricane, the fire started Tuesday and took the island by surprise, racing through parched growth and neighborhoods in the historic town of Lahaina, a tourist destination that dates to the 1700s and is the biggest community on the island's west side.

The fire on Maui is the deadliest U.S. blaze since the 2018 Camp Fire in California, which killed at least 85 people and laid waste to the town of Paradise. The Hawaii toll could rise, though, as rescuers reach parts of the island that had been unreachable due to ongoing fires or obstructions.

As the fires rage, tourists were advised to stay away, and about 11,000 flew out of Maui on Wednesday, with at least another 1,500 expected to leave Thursday, according to Ed Sniffen, state transportation director.

President Joe Biden declared a major disaster on Maui on Thursday. He ordered all available federal assets to help with the response and said the Hawaii National Guard had mobilized helicopters to help with fire suppression as well as search-and-rescue efforts.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.