Maui wildfires update: Search continues as 6 more victims identified; Lāhainā death toll remains at 115

The death toll in the deadly Lāhainā wildfire on Maui remains at 115 as the Maui Police Department has released the names of six more victims. The victims named Wednesday, all from Lāhainā, are:

• 66-year-old Tau Ponali.
• 78-year-old Valerie Kauffman.
• 77-year-old Salvador Coloma.
• 54-year-old Carlo Tobias.
• 62-year-old Albert Kitaguchi.
• 74-year-old Lynn Manibog.

A total of 49 individuals killed in the fire have now been identified, with 22 still pending family notification. The number of unaccounted for is between 1,000 and 1,100, according to officials.

The victims previously named, also all from Lāhainā, are:

• 74-year-old Clyde Wakida.
• 68-year-old Todd Yamafuji.
• 64-year-old Antonia Molina.
• 80-year-old Freeman Tam Lung.
• 72-year-old Theresa Cook.
• 67-year-old Joseph Schilling.
• 67-year-old Narciso Baylosis Jr.
• 67-year-old Vanessa Baylosis.
• 59-year-old Douglas Gloege.
• 45-year-old Juan Deleon.
• 75-year-old Conchita Sagudang.
• 55-year-old Danilo Sagudang.
• 76-year-old Rodolfo Rocutan.
• 76-year-old Jonathan Somaoang.
• 88-year-old Angelita Vasquez.
• 71-year-old Donna Gomes.
• 71-year-old Melva Benjamin.
• 90-year-old Virginia Dofa.
• 79-year-old Alfredo Galinato.
• 74-year-old Robert Dyckman.
• 79-year-old Buddy Jantoc.

Teams transitioned to searching multi-story residential and commercial properties in what remains of the historic West Maui community after reporting Monday that 100% of single-story residential properties had been searched in the about 3.5-mile area.

There were 341 emergency personnel and 50 canine units on the ground searching Wednesday. Underwater search efforts for human remains that began last Saturday also continued in nearshore waters of the Lāhainā Small Boat Harbor and along the Front Street breakwater.

Excavators and other heavy machines are only being used in the Lāhainā disaster area to assist emergency responders with the search and recovery process. Emergency crews are using heavy machines to move debris, including vehicles and building materials, so first responders can safely examine properties.

Heavy machines are not being used for any debris removal operations, and no debris removal operations are underway in Lāhainā at this time.

The Lāhainā Fire, the deadliest U.S. wildfire in the past century, ignited Aug. 8 and remained 90% contained as of Wednesday. The blaze had burned an estimated 2,170 acres. No noteworthy flare-ups have been observed in recent days.

The Olinda Fire remained 85% contained and had burned an estimated 1,081 acres. A helicopter was deployed before sunset Tuesday to help reach hot spots.

The Kula Fire also remained 85% contained after burning about 202 acres. Maui Fire Department crews have been extinguishing hot spots in the Kula Fire using hand crews and a helicopter. Fire activity is mostly located in hard-to-reach gulches. Flare-ups and reports of smoke have been well within the burn area and do not pose any threat to the public.

Maui Fire Department said complete extinguishment of the Upcountry fires could take an extended period of time given the large burn area and nature of the rural terrain.

Although containment percentages have not changed during recent days, the Fire Department continues to reassure the public that there are no active threats at this time with any of the fires and they are not advancing.