2 Lāhainā wildfire victims identified; death toll climbs to 106

Maui County officials have confirmed the identities of the first two victims, whose lives were claimed in the Lāhainā wildfire, as Robert Dyckman, 74, and Buddy Jantoc, 79.

Currently, authorities have identified three additional individuals who are pending next of kin notification. At this time, there have been 106 human remains recovered, awaiting identification.

Jantoc was a resident at Lāhainā’s senior housing residence, Hale Mahaolu. His granddaughter, Keshia Alakai, posted on social media five days ago that she was looking for her “papa.” The last time she spoke to him was Aug. 7, a day before the deadly blaze.

Three days ago, Alakai posted on Facebook that she received news of Jantoc’s death.

“Heaven has gained another angel,” Alakai stated.

Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen offered his deepest condolences to the families who are beginning to receive notifications about their loved ones. He said: “As a community, we offer our prayers of comfort in this most difficult time.”

Maui Police Department and assisting partners have been working tirelessly to ensure that proper protocols are followed while notifying the families of the victims involved. The County’s priority is to handle this situation with the utmost sensitivity and respect for those who are grieving.

“We understand that this is an incredibly difficult time for the families, and we ask that the media and the public respect the privacy of the grieving families.  We will continue to work closely with the families to ensure that they are updated and supported throughout this process. We extend our gratitude to the community for their support and understanding during this challenging time,” Maui County officials stated Tuesday.

Families are already releasing the names of their loved ones who have died in deadly West Maui fire that razed the old Hawaiian fishing village to the ground a week ago.

GoFundMe said there are several “verified fundraisers” that have been created to support the families of the victims who tragically lost their lives. The fundraising site has created a hub for verified fundraisers for those who have not only lost loved ones, but those seeking help after losing everything.

A crowdsourced public missing person spreadsheet was created by Ellie Erickson. As of Tuesday evening, it had 5,699 people on it. The majority had been located, but at least 1,145 people were listed as “Not Located.”

On Monday, eight people on the list were identified as being deceased, including six people named in this article and two others who Maui Now has not been able to immediately confirm by a second source.

On Facebook, a page also was created called Maui Fires People Finder, a community driven resource for folks looking for their loved ones.

As of Monday night, the Lāhainā Fire was 85% contained and had burned nearly 2,200 acres. Multiple fire crews are assigned to monitor and address any flare-ups. There are no active threats at this time.

The Upcountry/Kula Fire was 75% contained and had burned an estimated 678 acres. Hot spots in gulches, forests and other hard to reach places, along with land divisions and fences, make establishment of complete control lines difficult. During daylight hours Monday, air support was deployed to hit hot spots inside the perimeter.

The Pūlehu/Kīhei Fire remains 100% contained. Fire personnel are staying vigilant for flare-ups, and there are no active threats at this time.