Prominent television host Oprah Winfrey has taken a proactive role in expressing solidarity with Maui Island during the present series of destructive wildfires. She was recently observed at Maui shelters, engaging with individuals who were forced to leave their homes due to the wildfires, and delivering essential provisions.
Oprah Winfrey possesses real estate on the island, and her representative verified to the media that she has been actively volunteering at emergency shelters.
“Oprah has been to several local shelters to ask first-hand what was most needed. She then went to Walmart and Costco to shop for the items and brought them back. It is heart-breaking devastation,” Oprah’s spokesperson said.
This isn’t the first instance of Winfrey providing assistance during wildfire situations. Back in 2019, she facilitated the opening of a private road on her Maui property to aid people in swiftly escaping a brush fire. The tragic toll from the Hawaii wildfires has now risen to 67 casualties.
The government said in the statement, “The Lahaina fire is not yet contained.” Earlier, Hawaii Governor Josh Green said that the death toll from the wildfires on the island of Maui in Hawaii had reached 59.
Green said, “I authorized a comprehensive review this morning, to make sure that we know exactly what happened and when. “He said that the emergency officials particularly faced challenges as the flames burning near Lahaina, which ultimately turned into a firestorm that razed nearly all of the historic town had died down for some time before suddenly reigniting, and firefighters had shifted their focus to other areas on the island.”
The telecommunications were destroyed very rapidly at that point, Green said, meaning that the tight-knit community was unable to alert one another by phone, as they typically do when there is an emergency. “That communication was cut off,” the governor said.
Green said he is not going to “make any excuse for anyone.” However, the multiple fires burning at once had caused a “very fluid situation across the islands.” He said that despite those challenges, they will do everything they can to protect the people.
Jason Momoa, the Hollywood actor with Hawaiian heritage, also responded to the tragic event.
We are devastated and heartbroken for our friends and ‘ohana on Maui who have been impacted by the recent wildfires,” the caption reads on one of Momoa’s posts, which reposted information from the community organization Aina Momona.
Maui report stating that approximately 80 percent of a Lahaina fire has been brought under control, and about 70 percent of a Pulehu fire has been contained. Firefighters are actively working to secure the boundaries.
An evaluation is still pending for an Upcountry Maui fire.
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