VIDEO: Residents in West Maui woke up to one of their worst nightmares just a few weeks ago: Two wildfires that scorched roughly 2,000 acres, claiming 21 homes and forcing the evacuations of over a hundred households. Also this summer: Two raging wildfires broke out in Waianae and Makaha on the same day, burning a combined total of nearly 9,000 acres, sending thick black smoke billowing over residential communities and forcing the closures of two elementary schools.
These were just a few of the many brush fires to break out across the state in the past few months. While wildfires are not uncommon during the summer months due to hotter and drier conditions, scientists agree that what the state is seeing now is a preview of what's to come: A startling uptick in frequency of wildfires across the state and more intense wildfires that will burn over more land.