AI6YR BenAug 13, 2023
The first identification of victims -- a family of four--lived in this block in #Lahaina -- found in their car not far from their home. This entire corner would have likely been a no-way-to-exit zone with fire/powerlines down, as I identified a couple of days ago.
Show threadAI6YR Ben
The open MAXAR Imagery of Lahaina shows what I believe are a *lot* of burnt out vehicles in that corner of Lahaina. There's no egress there if poles were down or once fire made it down into that neighborhood. More than 150 homes which would have been pincered off by fire. This kind of stuff makes me think the toll is going to continue to get a lot worse, and due to fire/heat in the buildings, will be a sift-and-filter operation for months with DNA testing required. (ugly, painful reality).
Aug 13, 2023 at 4:23amWeb
Show threadAI6YR BenAug 13, 2023
This is the road they got trapped on, within this block somewhere. Fire would have been crossing from the left, power lines maybe down from the wind too. Hindsight is 20/20, but the only feasible survival move would be to drive through this fence instead, or break through or climb the fence and run and head right, not left.. #survival #lessons
Show threadAI6YR BenAug 13, 2023
Going southeast on any street; blocked, fire... death. Going northwest--blind corner with no exit, death. The only safety zone was over a bridge by driving through a dirt track in a construction zone.
Show threadJoseph ElfeltAug 13, 2023

@ai6yr We live at the end of a 1-lane road. For the first 1/4 mile that is the only way out. Lots of trees on both sides. In the remote chance that we would be suddenly surprised by fire and not able to use that road, then our backup route is to drive across our pasture, cut through the wire fence and continue through the neighbor's pasture to a county road.

I bought a special tool just for cutting that fence.

Show threadKevin McCoyAug 13, 2023
@ai6yr This absolutely sucks but I'm also so grateful for the way you're analyzing and approaching this as a public educational service, especially as more and more of us are going to face more and more of these kinds of awful situations.
Show threadMsMeropeAug 13, 2023
@ai6yr which I guess, unfortunately, explains all the requests for cadaver dogs ☹️
Show threadMsMeropeAug 13, 2023

@ai6yr btw for those who may not know - cadaver dogs are not trained the same way as search and rescue dogs are - they’re in a different classification.

(We had a handler come speak to our group about 6 years ago;
which is why I can’t remember the exact details.)

Show threadnshrubsAug 13, 2023
@ai6yr
Washington State team deploys to help in aftermath of deadly Hawaii fires
The 45-person FEMA team is made up of emergency responders and other professionals trained in search and rescue from Pierce and King counties.
A five-person K-9 human remains detection team will also be deployed with the group.
https://www.nwpb.org/2023/08/11/washington-state-team-deploys-to-help-in-aftermath-of-deadly-hawaii-fires/
Washington State team deploys to help in aftermath of deadly Hawaii fires - Northwest Public Broadcasting

A team of search and rescue personnel based out of the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management deployed to Hawaii Friday after President Joe Biden ordered federal aid to the state to help areas impacted by devastating wildfires. The 45-person FEMA team is made up of emergency responders and other professionals trained in search and rescue from Pierce and King counties. Continue Reading Washington State team deploys to help in aftermath of deadly Hawaii fires

Northwest Public Broadcasting
Show threadNiciHW🦋Aug 13, 2023

@ai6yr 😣😣😣

Horrifying and awful and so so sad