MAUI, HAWAII: The Baldwin Home, the oldest house in Maui, has been consumed by the ongoing deadly wildfires that are ravaging the Hawaiian islands.
The town of Lahaina has suffered significant damage due to the fires. The Baldwin Home, an important symbol of the island's history since the 1700s, has been lost in the blaze.
When was The Baldwin Home built?
Originally built in 1834 by Reverend Ephraim Spaulding as part of a "missionary compound," the Baldwin Home stood as a poignant representation of the island's past.
Reverend Dwight Baldwin, a medical missionary, and his family later moved into the house in 1836. Tragically, the Baldwin Home has now been reduced to ashes, lost to the inexorable flames.
The county officials have confirmed the destruction of 271 structures due to the wildfires, and the loss of human lives has been deeply felt with at least 53 fatalities at the time of publication. The fires have consumed over 2,000 acres of Maui, leaving hundreds missing.
A revered site reduced to ashes
Lahaina, once the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom and a revered site for the island nation's monarchy, has borne the brunt of this catastrophe. The fire's impact has been chillingly captured on social media by Senator Brian Schatz, who lamented the near-total devastation of Lahaina Town.
Firefighters continue to bring the inferno under control, while first responders engage in search and rescue missions.
During the smallpox epidemic of 1853, Reverend Baldwin's role as a physician became pivotal, as he tirelessly worked to quarantine residents and vaccinate the populace against the disease.
'We had no preparation, no warning, nothing'
Theo Morrison, executive director of the Lahaina Restoration Foundation, told the New York Times: "We had no preparation, no warning, nothing. This is the most destructive thing that has happened in this town's entire history."
Aerial footage showcased the desolation that now graces the landscape, with homes, businesses, and cherished landmarks like Front Street, where the Baldwin Home once stood, now reduced to rubble.
The fires' origins remain a subject of investigation, but they are known to have ignited on Tuesday, August 8, fueled by strong winds emanating from Hurricane Dora's passage.
A confluence of factors including low humidity and an extended drought season contributed to the catastrophe. As the flames encroached upon the shoreline, desperate locals took to the water to evade the fire's grasp.
Responding to calamity
State officials are working diligently to manage the crisis and its impact on tourism. Efforts are being made to evacuate thousands of stranded tourists to other islands, working in coordination with hotels and airlines.
The Hawaii Department of Transportation has confirmed the operation of Maui's Kahului Airport, where thousands find themselves marooned, attempting to escape the island's turmoil.
Ed Sniffen, the director of the Hawaii State Department of Transportation, has emphasized the discouragement of nonessential inbound travel to Maui.
A significant number of individuals have been forced to stay overnight at the airport, while around 4,000 visitors seek departure from the west side of the island.
The Hawaii Tourism Authority has issued a statement advising travelers to avoid West Maui, adding, "Visitors with travel plans to stay in other parts of Maui and the Kohala Coast of Hawaiʻi Island in the coming weeks are encouraged to contact their hotels for updated information and how their travel plans may be affected."
