(WGGB/WSHM) – The island of Maui, in Hawaii, remains a disaster zone following the wildfires that devastated most of Lahaina last week. Residents are struggling to navigate a town they’ve known their entire lives, while tourists find a once-popular destination covered in ash.
“The desperation that people have is extreme, you know…Literally, here in Maui, you had people that were running away from fire, who didn’t know how to swim, who jumped into the water as an absolutely last resort, absolute last resort,” said a rescuer on the scene.
A non-profit organization led by veterans, Project Dynamo, is actively working in Lahaina. Using helicopters and military expertise, the team is evacuating people and animals from danger in an operation reminiscent of a war zone.