Last week the town of Lahaina in Maui, Hawaii was decimated by wildfires fueled by high winds from hurricane Dora. The destruction has been severe, with the death toll currently at 96 and expected to go higher. As of today, over 1,000 people are still missing and unaccounted for. More than 2,700 structures were destroyed with an estimated $5.6 billion in damages. The blaze is said to be the deadliest wildfire in the United States in more than a century.
The North Orange County Community College District stands in solidarity with the Hawaiian community and all those affected by this crisis. Our deepest condolences go out to those who have lost loved ones and seen their homes, business, and communities destroyed.
For those of you wishing to help the victims of the Maui wildfires, the following mutual aid organizations are suggested:
As always, we are grateful to the brave firefighters and first responders who risk their lives to save others. In California, we are no stranger to the mass destruction caused by fires, and there continues to be a pressing need for more forestry and firefighting programs as severe weather increases worldwide. Just this month, we committed to pilot a Fire and Forestry Program collaboration with Columbia College in the Sierra foothills to give our students on-the-ground training. We will release more information as the program develops.