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(MAUI, Hawaii) — Lahaina Restoration Foundation’s executive director Theo Morrison talks about the cultural significance of the hist…

Destructive wildfires are consuming the Hawaiian island of Maui, with dozens of deaths reported and hundreds of structures impacted.

At least 36 people so far have died in connection with the blaze, local officials said Thursday. Many cultural landmarks cherished by the people of the island are also being threatened by the ongoing devastation.

“We’ve lost a lot of homes, and a lot of businesses, and cultural and historical resources that have burned to the ground,” said Pamela Tumpap, president of the Maui Chamber of Commerce, in an interview with ABC News Live. “We’re seeing fires unlike we’ve ever seen before.”

Residents and officials say they are devastated by the fire’s destruction that could permanently alter the town.

“These are historic buildings that—they can’t be rebuilt,” Maui helicopter pilot and business owner Chris Olsten told ABC News Live. “They were there from the beginning and now they’re gone. And there’s nothing that we can do to replace them. And it’s just level flat to the ground … history, forever gone.”

The historic town of Lahaina

The region particularly being ravaged by the wildfires is the historic town of Lahaina, which has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1962.

“The town was a favorite site of Hawaiian kings and queens, whaling ships, and missionaries,” reads the National Park Service’s site on the district. “The historic district covers both land and sea and encompasses the entire old town of Lahaina as well as the waters one mile out from the historic section of the town.”

It was the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1820 to 1845 before Honolulu became the capital and before the kingdom was overthrown and Hawaii was annexed by the United States, according to the Hawai’i Tourism Authority.

Throughout the city are 55 acres of old Lāhainā that have been set aside as historic districts, including several of the culturally and historically significant landmarks that may be impacted by the blazes.

A 150-year-old historic banyan tree

According to the Lahaina Restoration Foundation, a more than 60-feet-tall, 150-year old Indian banyan tree that covers one quarter of a mile and shades nearly two-thirds of an acre had become a beloved landmark in the city of Lahaina.

The banyan tree was located in the path of the blaze, and could be seen scorched in images.

The foundation states that it is the largest banyan tree in the entire United States, and the courthouse square was renamed “Banyan Tree Park” in its honor.

According to the foundation, the tree was planted to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first Protestant mission in Lahaina. At the time it was only eight feet tall, the foundation’s website states.

Old Lahaina Courthouse and Heritage Museum

The Lahaina Heritage Museum is located within the Old Lahaina Courthouse just in front of the historic banyan tree and has also been caught up in the blaze, according to the Lahaina Restoration Foundation. What appears to be structural damage can be seen in aerial photos.

The heritage museum and its artifacts offered a look at the history of the town from its indigenous roots before colonization to its evolution through missionary efforts, whaling, the growth of plantations and tourism.

“This picturesque village has played a significant role in the development of the Hawaiian Kingdom, Republic, Territory and State of Hawai’i,” the foundation states on its website.

Baldwin Home

The Baldwin Home, the oldest house still standing on Maui, was burned in the wildfire, a museum official told CNN.

According to the Lahaina Restoration Foundation, the Baldwin Home served as a missionary compound around 1834. However, when the original owner Reverend Ephraim Spaulding moved out, a medical missionary moved it.

That missionary, Reverend Dwight Baldwin, would go on to inoculate the people of Maui Nui “with a smallpox vaccine to prevent deaths from the smallpox epidemic of 1853,” according to the foundation.

Pioneer Inn

A 122-year old working hotel called Pioneer Inn appears to have sustained damage from the wildfire, according to aerial photos of the region. The inn sits at the edge of the Lahaina Harbor in the historic district.

“The hotel served the plantation communities and occasionally hosted notable guests such as novelist Jack London and the founding father of the Republic of China Sun Yat-Sen,” according to the National Park Service. “Today, the hotel is known as the Pioneer Inn and is one of the oldest operating hotels in Hawaii.”

Waiola Church and Lahaina Hongwanji Mission

The hall of historic Waiola Church, the first Christian church on Maui, was seen in photos engulfed in the blaze.

Lahaina Hongwanji Mission, which is a historic Shin Buddhist temple with roots back to the arrival of a Shin Buddhist minister in 1904, was also seen in photos consumed by the wildfire.

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(FORT PIERCE, Fla.) — Former President Donald Trump and longtime aide Walt Nauta both pleaded not guilty Thursday to new charges brought by special counsel Jack Smith in a superseding indictment last month in his classified documents probe.

Mar-a-Lago club property manager Carlos De Oliveira, facing his first charges in the case, still could not be arraigned Thursday because arrangements for local counsel had not yet been finalized. That arraignment was rescheduled for Tuesday morning.

“We believe that we have that ironed out,” De Oliveira ‘s lawyer, John Irving, said.

Trump, who waived his right to appear in person, was represented by attorney Todd Blanche who entered a not guilty plea on Trump’s behalf. Attorney Stanley Woodward entered the not guilty plea for Nauta who, like De Oliveira, was present in the Florida courtroom.

Thursday’s charges added onto the prior indictment filed against Trump and Nauta in June.

Trump earlier pleaded not guilty in June to 37 criminal counts related to his handling of classified materials, after prosecutors said he repeatedly refused to return hundreds of documents containing classified information ranging from U.S. nuclear secrets to the nation’s defense capabilities, and took steps to thwart the government’s efforts to get the documents back.

Nauta, who was charged alongside Trump, also pleaded not guilty to related charges. Trump has denied all charges and denounced the probe as a political witch hunt.

Thursday’s arraignment will be the first time De Oliveira, the newest defendant in the classified documents case, enters a plea in the case. He is charged with four criminal counts, including making false statements, conspiring to obstruct justice, and concealing an object.

De Oliveira was unable to enter a plea during his initial appearance on July 31 because he had not yet retained local counsel. He was released on $100,000 personal surety bond and ordered to not communicate about the case with any fact witnesses identified by the government, a condition of release shared with Trump and Nauta.

Trump, Nauta, and De Oliveira are all facing new charges in the superseding indictment, including that they conspired to obstruct justice by attempting to delete surveillance footage at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in order “to conceal information from the FBI and grand jury,” according to the indictment.

Prosecutors allege that the three men engaged in a plot to destroy potential evidence, set in motion after the Trump Organization received a draft grand jury subpoena in June 2022 requesting Mar-a-Lago security footage.

Trump allegedly communicated with Nauta and De Oliveira, including a 24-minute phone call with De Oliveira, the day following the receipt of the subpoena, according to the indictment.

“Nauta and De Oliveira went to the security guard booth where the surveillance video is displayed on monitors, walked with a flashlight through the tunnel where the storage room was located, and observed and pointed out surveillance cameras,” said the indictment about the defendants’ actions in the days after communicating with Trump.

On a separate occasion, De Oliveira allegedly told Mar-a-Lago’s director of information technology in a private meeting that “the boss” wanted the server holding the security footage deleted, according to the indictment.

“What are we going to do?” De Oliveira allegedly told the IT director after the employee questioned if he had the ability or right to delete the footage.

Prosecutors also allege that after the FBI executed a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago on Aug. 8, Nauta called a Mar-a-Lago valet to “make sure Carlos is good.”

“In response, [the valet] told Nauta that De Oliveira was loyal and that De Oliveira would not do anything to affect his relationship with Trump,” the indictment said. Later that day, Trump allegedly called De Oliveira to communicate that he would get De Oliveira an attorney, according to the indictment.

Prosecutors have also charged De Oliveira with making false statements during a voluntary interview with the FBI, during which De Oliveira denied any knowledge or involvement in moving boxes of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago.

De Oliveira’s attorney, John Irving, said following De Oliveira’s first court appearance that he was eager to begin receiving the government’s evidence in the case.

“The Justice Department has unfortunately decided to bring these charges against Mr. De Oliveira,” said Irving. “Now it’s time for them to put their money where their mouth is, so I’m looking forward to seeing what discovery is.”

Irving declined to comment if his client has been asked by the government to cooperate and testify against Trump.

“I’m not going to go there,” Irving said.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

(NEW YORK) — Dangerous wildfires are spreading rapidly on Maui due to very dry conditions stemming from a drought combined with powerful trade winds being squeezed across Hawaii.

At least 36 people have died from the wildfires on Maui and much of the coastal town of Lahaina has been “destroyed,” according to officials. A state of emergency has been declared for the whole island, while all nonessential travel to the popular vacation destination is being discouraged, officials said.

The Big Island of Hawaii has also been affected by wildfires.

The winds are being caused by a strong high pressure system to the north and a strong low pressure system — Hurricane Dora — well to the south.

Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern:

Aug 10, 6:41 AM EDT
Latest wind forecast for Hawaii

The National Weather Service has canceled all high wind and red flag warning alerts for Hawaii as wind speeds are expected to decrease slightly on Thursday.

But wind gusts are still forecast to get up to 25 to 35 miles per hour, which will not help the fight to contain raging wildfires on Maui.

Over the last few days, winds have gusted to as high as 82 mph in parts of Hawaii. In Maui County, wind speeds got up to 67 mph.

This is due to very strong trade winds and the increased pressure gradient between the high pressure to the north of Hawaii and Hurricane Dora to the south.

Dora never hit Hawaii, only coming as close as 700 miles to the south. So the winds are not due to Dora but rather the pressure gradient effect.

-ABC News’ Max Golembo

Aug 10, 4:35 AM EDT
Death toll rises to 36 on Maui

At least 36 people have died as wildfires tear through the Hawaiian island of Maui, according to officials.

During a press conference early Thursday, Maui Mayor Richard Bissen confirmed that the death toll is “growing.”

“We knew of six earlier. We are probably around 36 as of now,” Bissen said.

Maui County also confirmed in a statement late Wednesday that “36 total fatalities have been discovered today”

-ABC News’ Alyssa Pone

Aug 09, 11:15 PM EDT
More than 271 structures impacted

Authorities say more than 271 structures have been impacted, as fires continue to burn into early evening local time.

A federal team has arrived on the island to assist in search and rescue efforts in Lahaina, Maui County said Wednesday.

Close to 100 Maui firefighters have been on duty around the clock, including 11 from the state airport, the county said. The Maui Fire Department has reached out for additional support, requesting 20 more firefighters from Honolulu, Oahu and an incident management team.

Firefighters are addressing spot fires in Lahaina. Two Chinooks, along with four Windward Aviation helicopters, have been battling all three fires with water drops. Three additional helicopters from the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy have conducted search and rescue along the West Maui coastline, the county said.

The Maui FD reported no significant changes for the Lahaina, Upcountry and Pūlehu fires as of the afternoon local time.

There are no new evacuations, however, motorists are prohibited from entering Lahaina while the fire is active, with police on hand to prevent entry into the area. Residents who are still in Lahaina have been advised they can evacuate via Kahakuloa.

Aug 09, 9:37 PM EDT
FEMA approves disaster relief as wildfires rage, thousands without power

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved Hawaii’s request for a disaster declaration for help with a wildfire on Kohala Ranch on the Big Island of Hawaii, according to Hawaii’s Emergency Management Agency.

Around 200 homes in and near Kohala Ranch have been impacted by the fires that began on Tuesday, the state’s emergency management agency said in a press release.

“The fire was also threatening a volunteer fire department, local electrical transmission lines and an AT&T cellular communications tower in the area,” Hawaii’s Emergency Management Agency said.

There are 12,400 customers without power, according to Hawaiian Electric. The company is working to get some power restored.

Aug 09, 7:30 PM EDT
Helicopter pilot on Maui devastation

When helicopter pilot Richard Olsten flew above Lahaina, Maui, on Wednesday, he said he was not prepared for what he saw.

“It was heartbreaking,” Olsten told ABC News Live. “There’s hundreds of homes burned down to the ground. The entire area of Front Street, the whole historic area, is gone, burned to the ground.”

“We were just speechless with one another as we viewed this horrible destruction of the town,” Olsten said.

Aug 09, 7:27 PM EDT
Latest from airlines

So far on Wednesday, there have been 17 cancellations and 46 delays at Kahului Airport (OGG) in Maui, according to FlightAware.

Delta Air Lines said it anticipates operating a full schedule out of Maui on Wednesday, adding two more flights to help accommodate customers from flights canceled the day before.

American Airlines said it canceled all flights to Kahului Airport on Wednesday but expects to operate the majority of flights out of the airport “to ensure customers evacuating OGG are able to do so.”

The Federal Aviation Administration said earlier it’s monitoring the wildfire and winds in Hawaii, but operations remain normal. A spokesperson said that, if necessary, the agency will take steps to manage the flow of traffic safely into areas that experience reduced visibility from wildfire smoke.

-ABC News’ Amanda Maile

Aug 09, 6:47 PM EDT
‘I was trapped’: Maui fire survivors speak out

A Maui resident recounted escaping from his burning home in an interview with ABC News’ Gio Benitez on Wednesday.

“We started smelling the smoke, and that’s when we knew we had trouble,” Steve Scott said. “It came, and it came quick.”

Scott said he tried to fight the fire with a hose before managing to flee.

“I was trapped,” he said. “We had to run to the harbor.”

Scott said the loss is “horrible,” especially along Front Street in downtown Lahaina, just as the tourist-driven area started to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I don’t know if we can recover from this,” he said.

Aug 09, 6:43 PM EDT
Biden on wildfire response

President Joe Biden and the first lady said they are sending condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones in the Maui wildfires.

In a statement Wednesday evening, Biden said he has ordered “all available Federal assets on the Islands to help with response” and is urging “all residents to continue to follow evacuation orders, listen to the instructions of first responders and officials, and stay alert.”

-ABC News’ Justin Gomez

Aug 09, 4:43 PM EDT
‘Our beautiful island has been ravaged by fires’

Maui Chamber of Commerce President Pamela Tumpap detailed the level of devastation in a phone interview with ABC News Live.

“Our beautiful island has been ravaged by fires from the mountain to the ocean,” Tumpap said.

Tumpap said some areas look like they have been “completely leveled.”

“We’ve lost a lot of homes and we’ve lost a lot of business places and we’ve lost cultural and historic resources that were in the Chinatown that have burned to the ground,” Tumpap said. “We are seeing fires unlike what we’ve ever seen before.”

Tumpap cautioned travelers against coming to the island, saying it is “not going to be the Maui vacation that you planned” and visitors will have a hard time finding resources.

Aug 09, 4:20 PM EDT
At least 6 deaths reported in Maui, mayor says

There have been at least six deaths reported in Maui County amid devastating wildfires, officials said.

“We’re still in a search and rescue mode, and so I don’t know what will happen to that number,” Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said during a press briefing Wednesday afternoon.

More than 2,100 people are in shelters in Maui County, he said.

Shelters are “overrun” amid the disaster, Hawaii Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke said while urging tourists not to travel there.

“This is not a safe place to be,” she said.

Aug 09, 4:01 PM EDT
Mother evacuates in middle of the night with 2 children

Maui resident Malika Dudley described to ABC News Live her experience evacuating from the raging wildfires in Hawaii with her two children in the middle of the night.

Currently in Haliimaile, which is on the slopes of Haleakalā, Dudley can still see the fire from the mountain growing and spreading.

“We were in the very first evacuation at 1 a.m.. I started to smell smoke in my home, and I woke my husband up and he said, ‘Oh, don’t worry about it.’ At 1:30, I thought, ‘No, something’s on fire in our house.'”

Eventually, Dudley, who is also a meteorologist for ABC affiliate KITV, got a call from their neighbor and the fire was right above their property.

“We got a call from our neighbor who said, ‘Get out of your house.’ And we looked out the window and there was a red glow outside of our window,” she said. “The fire was right above our property.”

Aug 09, 3:50 PM EDT
Hawaii governor: ‘Some loss of life is expected’

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green warned “some loss of life is expected” amid the wildfires.

“Heroic efforts by first responders have prevented many casualties from occurring, but some loss of life is expected,” Green said in a statement Wednesday. “Our entire emergency response team, including the Hawai‘i National Guard has mobilized and is being supported by FEMA.”

Green will be returning to the islands immediately due to the wildfire emergency, his office announced.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

(MIAMI) — Former President Donald Trump’s attorneys have asked the federal judge overseeing his classified documents case to approve a special facility at his Mar-a-Lago estate for him to be able to discuss classified evidence with his legal team “as necessary to prepare an adequate defense,” they said in legal filing Wednesday.

Trump attorneys specifically asked that a previous facility Trump used at Mar-a-Lago while serving as president — where he was previously permitted to discuss and review classified information — be re-established so he can now discuss classified materials shared with his legal team by special counsel Jack Smith in the classified documents case.

In the filing, Trump’s team says they’re making the request due to the the “immense practical and logistical hurdles and costs that make it virtually impossible for President Trump to make regular trips to a public facility to discuss classified discovery material with counsel as necessary to conduct a defense consistent with the rights afforded by the Constitution.”

“Both the required security protocol surrounding President Trump’s travel and the challenges surrounding the media’s and public’s intense focus on this prosecution pose an enormous obstacle to our ability to provide counsel to President Trump regarding classified matters, which are, no doubt, essential to this case,” the filing says.

Trump was charged in June with 37 criminal counts related to his handling of classified materials, after prosecutors said he repeatedly refused to return hundreds of documents containing classified information ranging from U.S. nuclear secrets to the nation’s defense capabilities, and took steps to thwart the government’s efforts to get the documents back. The former president pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Trump’s longtime aide, Walt Nauta, also pleaded not guilty to related charges.

A superseding indictment subsequently charged Trump, Nauta, and Carlos De Oliveira, head of maintenance at Mar-a-Lago, with two obstruction counts based on allegations that the defendants attempted to delete surveillance video footage at Mar-a-Lago in the summer of 2022.

Trump has denied all charges and denounced the probe as a political witch hunt.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

(NEW YORK) — Dangerous wildfires are spreading rapidly across Maui due to very dry conditions stemming from a drought combined with powerful trade winds being squeezed across Hawaii. The Big Island of Hawaii has also been affected by wildfires, officials said.

While there has been no confirmation of any fatalities, “some loss of life is expected,” Gov. Josh Green said, and much of Lahaina has been “destroyed.” A state of emergency has been declared for the whole island, while all nonessential travel to the vacation destination is being discouraged, officials said.

The winds are being caused by a strong high pressure system to the north and a strong low pressure system — Hurricane Dora — well to the south.

Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern.

Aug 09, 4:43 PM EDT
‘Our beautiful island has been ravaged by fires’

Maui Chamber of Commerce President Pamela Tumpap detailed the level of devastation in a phone interview with ABC News Live.

“Our beautiful island has been ravaged by fires from the mountain to the ocean,” Tumpap said.

Tumpap said some areas look like they have been “completely leveled.”

“We’ve lost a lot of homes and we’ve lost a lot of business places and we’ve lost cultural and historic resources that were in the Chinatown that have burned to the ground,” Tumpap said. “We are seeing fires unlike what we’ve ever seen before.”

Tumpap cautioned travelers against coming to the island, saying it is “not going to be the Maui vacation that you planned” and visitors will have a hard time finding resources.

Aug 09, 4:20 PM EDT
At least 6 deaths reported in Maui, mayor says

There have been at least six deaths reported in Maui County amid devastating wildfires, officials said.

“We’re still in a search and rescue mode, and so I don’t know what will happen to that number,” Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said during a press briefing Wednesday afternoon.

More than 2,100 people are in shelters in Maui County, he said.

Shelters are “overrun” amid the disaster, Hawaii Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke said while urging tourists not to travel there.

“This is not a safe place to be,” she said.

Aug 09, 4:01 PM EDT
Mother evacuates in middle of the night with 2 children

Maui resident Malika Dudley described to ABC News Live her experience evacuating from the raging wildfires in Hawaii with her two children in the middle of the night.

Currently in Haliimaile, which is on the slopes of Haleakalā, Dudley can still see the fire from the mountain growing and spreading.

“We were in the very first evacuation at 1 a.m.. I started to smell smoke in my home, and I woke my husband up and he said, ‘Oh, don’t worry about it.’ At 1:30, I thought, ‘No, something’s on fire in our house.'”

Eventually, Dudley, who is also a meteorologist for ABC affiliate KITV, got a call from their neighbor and the fire was right above their property.

“We got a call from our neighbor who said, ‘Get out of your house.’ And we looked out the window and there was a red glow outside of our window,” she said. “The fire was right above our property.”

Aug 09, 3:50 PM EDT
Hawaii governor: ‘Some loss of life is expected’

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green warned “some loss of life is expected” amid the wildfires.

“Heroic efforts by first responders have prevented many casualties from occurring, but some loss of life is expected,” Green said in a statement Wednesday. “Our entire emergency response team, including the Hawai‘i National Guard has mobilized and is being supported by FEMA.”

Green will be returning to the islands immediately due to the wildfire emergency, his office announced.

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(STONY BROOK, N.Y.) — A judge has ordered suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann to turn in a DNA swab.

“The Court finds that contrary to the defendant’s contentions, there is probably cause to believe that the defendant committed the crimes charged and, therefore, a basis to compel the buccal swab,” Suffolk County Supreme Court Judge Timothy Mazzei wrote in a decision Wednesday.

The swab is to be taken while Heuermann is in the presence of his attorney, who had opposed it.

The judge said a comparison of Heuermann’s direct DNA sample with the mitochondrial sample from a hair recovered from one of the victims and the DNA found on the pizza crust outside Heuermann’s office “will yield probative material evidence, whether it is inculpatory or not.”

A direct DNA sample could also be entered into statewide and nationwide databases. Mitochondrial DNA is ineligible.

Heuermann, a New York City architect and father of two from Massapequa Park, Long Island, was arrested on July 13 for the murders of three Gilgo Beach victims: sex workers Megan Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello. The young women disappeared in 2009 and 2010 and their bodies were found on Long Island in 2010.

Heuermann’s attorney entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

Heuermann is also the prime suspect in the death of a fourth victim, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, who vanished in 2007. He has not been charged in that case. The investigation is “expected to be resolved soon,” according to sources.

During a court appearance last week, prosecutors said they’ve turned over evidence to the defense including hard drives, thousands of pages of documents and photographs, autopsy reports, DNA reports and surveillance footage from Heuermann’s home.

Heuermann’s attorney, Michael Brown, told reporters last week that his client professes his innocence and plans to go to trial.

ABC News’ Emily Shapiro contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

(NEW YORK) — Officials say they expect “loss of life” as ferocious wildfires, whipped by strong winds and very dry conditions, are wreaking havoc in Hawaii, prompting evacuations, rescues and school closures and prompting an emergency proclamation from the acting governor.

Gov. Josh Green will be returning to the islands immediately due to the wildfire emergency, his office announced in a statement Wednesday.

“Heroic efforts by first responders have prevented many casualties from occurring, but some loss of life is expected. Our entire emergency response team, including the Hawai‘i National Guard has mobilized and is being supported by FEMA,” Green said in a statement Wednesday.

The proclamation was issued for Hawaii’s Maui and Hawaii counties on Tuesday by acting Gov. Sylvia Luke. On Wednesday, the emergency proclamation was extended to all counties and non-essential air travel to Maui is now being discouraged. All affected state agencies have also been ordered to assist with the evacuation.

The proclamation encourages visitors in West Maui to depart the island as soon as safe and practicable.

Wildfires are spreading rapidly in very dry conditions stemming from a drought over West Maui combined with powerful trade winds being squeezed across Hawaii. The winds are being caused by a strong high pressure system to the north and a strong low pressure system — Hurricane Dora — well to the south.

“We are closely following the wildfires caused by the strong winds of Hurricane Dora,” Luke said. “The safety of our residents is paramount, and this emergency proclamation will activate the Hawaii National Guard to support emergency responders in the impacted communities.”

In addition to Hawaii’s National Guard being activated to assist with the fires on Maui and the Big Island, the U.S. Army’s 25th Infantry Division will be sending helicopters to help with fire suppression if the winds die down enough, according to Jeff Hickman, a spokesman for Hawaii’s Department of Defense.

The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for the leeward portions of all Hawaiian Islands.

There have been no confirmed fatalities as of Wednesday morning, according to the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. Communication is spotty on the island and 911 is down in areas of West Maui, according to the state’s EMA.

As of Tuesday night, six fires have burned over 1,800 acres across Maui and the Big Island. Officials said the situation on Maui is very dynamic and fast-moving.

Evacuations were in place Tuesday near two fires burning near Maui — the Lahaina and Upcountry Maui fires, county officials said.

“Multiple structures have burned and multiple evacuations are in place, as firefighter crews continue battling brush and structure fires in Upcountry and Lahaina areas,” officials said in a statement, “In West Maui, fire crews from Napili, Lahaina, Kihei and Wailuku responded to the fast-moving fire, which was fueled by strong winds as Hurricane Dora passed well south of Hawaii.”

The U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies are also responding.

“A @USCG 45-foot Response Boat Medium crew from Station Maui has successfully rescued 12 individuals from the waters off Lahaina,” the guard’s Hawaii Pacific patrol said on social media.

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The individuals are believed to have jumped into the water to escape the flames, according to the state’s EMA.

The guard’s Cutter Kimball was headed to Maui to “enhance efforts,” the statement said.

Travel headaches

There has been no formal closure of Kahului Airport, the main airport on Maui, but there have been disruptions from the smoke. Travelers should check with their airlines for their flight status, according to the EMA.

About 1,800 people sheltered at Kahului Airport overnight, according to the Hawaii Department of Transportation.

The Hawaii DOT has also urged visitors to leave Maui if possible and not travel to the island. The warnings have caused panic on flights headed to the island.

An Alaska Airlines flight from Los Angeles International Airport to Maui has been delayed for hours and twice allowed passengers off the plane after being told about the conditions on the island.

“I was going to West Maui but don’t know if I am anymore because I guess it’s on fire and they’re evacuating people to Honolulu,” Sam Herring, a passenger still on the plane, told ABC News. “I was going to stay with somebody I know on the west side but now I guess I’m going to sleep in the rental car.”

Weather conditions

Due to weather conditions — east winds 30 to 45 mph with gusts up to around 60 mph and 35% to 45% humidity through the afternoon hours on Wednesday — any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior, according to the NWS.

Wind speeds will continue to trend lower Wednesday and Thursday as the high pressure center north of the islands and Hurricane Dora, currently south of the state, continue to move westward.

Very dry fuels combined with strong and gusty easterly winds and low humidity will produce critical fire weather conditions through the afternoon hours.

ABC News’ Luis Martinez, Will Carr, Timmy Truong and Marilyn Heck have contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

(NEW YORK) — Ferocious wildfires, whipped by strong winds and very dry conditions, are wreaking havoc in Hawaii, prompting evacuations, rescues and school closures and prompting an emergency proclamation from the acting governor.

The proclamation was issued for Hawaii’s Maui and Hawaii counties on Tuesday by acting Gov. Sylvia Luke. The eye of Hurricane Dora was “churning far south of the islands,” but the winds were still reaching much of the state, she said in a statement.

“We are closely following the wildfires caused by the strong winds of Hurricane Dora,” Luke said. “The safety of our residents is paramount, and this emergency proclamation will activate the Hawaii National Guard to support emergency responders in the impacted communities.”

In addition to Hawaii’s National Guard being activated to assist with the fires on Maui and the Big Island, the U.S. Army’s 25th Infantry Division will be sending helicopters to help with fire suppression if the winds die down enough, according to Jeff Hickman, a spokesman for Hawaii’s Department of Defense.

The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for the leeward portions of all Hawaiian Islands.

Wildfires are spreading rapidly in very dry conditions stemming from a drought over West Maui combined with powerful trade winds being squeezed across Hawaii. The winds are being caused by a strong high pressure system to the north and a strong low pressure system — Hurricane Dora — well to the south.

There have been no confirmed fatalities as of Wednesday morning, according to the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. Communication is spotty on the island and 911 is down in areas of West Maui, according to the state’s EMA.

As of Tuesday night, six fires have burned over 1,800 acres across Maui and the Big Island. Officials said the situation on Maui is very dynamic and fast-moving.

Evacuations were in place Tuesday near two fires burning near Maui — the Lahaina and Upcountry Maui fires, county officials said.

“Multiple structures have burned and multiple evacuations are in place, as firefighter crews continue battling brush and structure fires in Upcountry and Lahaina areas,” officials said in a statement, “In West Maui, fire crews from Napili, Lahaina, Kihei and Wailuku responded to the fast-moving fire, which was fueled by strong winds as Hurricane Dora passed well south of Hawaii.”

The U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies are also responding.

“A @USCG 45-foot Response Boat Medium crew from Station Maui has successfully rescued 12 individuals from the waters off Lahaina,” the guard’s Hawaii Pacific patrol said on social media.

The individuals are believed to have jumped into the water to escape the flames, according to the state’s EMA.

The guard’s Cutter Kimball was headed to Maui to “enhance efforts,” the statement said.

Travel headaches

There has been no formal closure of Kahului Airport, the main airport on Maui, but there have been disruptions from the smoke. Travelers should check with their airlines for their flight status, according to the EMA.

About 1,800 people sheltered at Kahului Airport overnight, according to the Hawaii Department of Transportation.

The Hawaii DOT has also urged visitors to leave Maui if possible and not travel to the island. The warnings have caused panic on flights headed to the island.

An Alaska Airlines flight from Los Angeles International Airport to Maui has been delayed for hours and twice allowed passengers off the plane after being told about the conditions on the island.

“I was going to West Maui but don’t know if I am anymore because I guess it’s on fire and they’re evacuating people to Honolulu,” Sam Herring, a passenger still on the plane, told ABC News. “I was going to stay with somebody I know on the west side but now I guess I’m going to sleep in the rental car.”

Weather conditions

Due to weather conditions — east winds 30 to 45 mph with gusts up to around 60 mph and 35% to 45% humidity through the afternoon hours on Wednesday — any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior, according to the NWS.

Wind speeds will continue to trend lower Wednesday and Thursday as the high pressure center north of the islands and Hurricane Dora, currently south of the state, continue to move westward.

Very dry fuels combined with strong and gusty easterly winds and low humidity will produce critical fire weather conditions through the afternoon hours.

ABC News’ Luis Martinez, Will Carr, Timmy Truong and Marilyn Heck have contributed to this report.

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(SALT LAKE CITY) — A Utah man was shot and killed during an FBI raid early Wednesday morning, the FBI confirmed to ABC News. The raid was in connection with an investigation into alleged threats against President Joe Biden and others, according to two officials briefed on the case.

One of the officials told ABC News that the investigation began in April and the U.S. Secret Service was notified by the FBI in June. In addition to threatening posts, the official said, the man under investigation suggested online he was making plans to take physical action. The threats had been deemed “credible,” the official said.

The FBI in Salt Lake City said the shooting occurred around 6:15 am. local time while special agents attempted to serve arrest and search warrants at a residence in Provo.

“The FBI takes all shooting incidents involving our agents or task force members seriously,” the FBI said in a statement. “In accordance with FBI policy, the shooting incident is under review by the FBI’s Inspection Division. As this is an ongoing matter, we have no further details to provide.”

ABC News has reached out to the U.S. Secret Service for comment.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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(NEW YORK) — Ferocious wildfires, whipped by the winds of Hurricane Dora, wreaked havoc in Hawaii, prompting evacuations, rescues and school closures and prompting an emergency proclamation from the acting governor.

The proclamation was issued for Hawaii’s Maui and Hawaii counties on Tuesday by acting Gov. Sylvia Luke. The eye of the hurricane was “churning far south of the islands,” but the winds were still reaching much of the state, she said in a statement.

“We are closely following the wildfires caused by the strong winds of Hurricane Dora,” Luke said. “The safety of our residents is paramount, and this emergency proclamation will activate the Hawaii National Guard to support emergency responders in the impacted communities.”

The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for the leeward portions of all Hawaiian Islands.

There have been no confirmed fatalities as of Wednesday morning, according to the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. Communication is spotty on the island and 911 is down in areas of West Maui, according to the state’s EMA.

As of Tuesday night, six fires have burned over 1,800 acres across Maui and the Big Island. Officials said the situation on Maui is very dynamic and fast-moving.

Evacuations were in place Tuesday near two fires burning near Maui — the Lahaina and Upcountry Maui fires, county officials said.

“Multiple structures have burned and multiple evacuations are in place, as firefighter crews continue battling brush and structure fires in Upcountry and Lahaina areas,” officials said in a statement, later adding, “In West Maui, fire crews from Napili, Lahaina, Kihei and Wailuku responded to the fast-moving fire, which was fueled by strong winds as Hurricane Dora passed well south of Hawaii.”

The governor’s proclamation also authorized appropriate actions by the director of the state’s Emergency Management Agency and the Administrator of Emergency Management, according to the statement.

The U.S Coast Guard and other agencies were also responding.

“A @USCG 45-foot Response Boat Medium crew from Station Maui has successfully rescued 12 individuals from the waters off Lahaina,” the guard’s Hawaii Pacific patrol saidon social media.

The guard’s Cutter Kimball was headed to Maui to “enhance efforts,” the statement said.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

ABC News’ Marilyn Heck contributed to this report.

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