Lahaina Fire (Maui) (2023)
Maui (Lahaina), Hawaii · Aug 8, 2023 – Aug 2023
Deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a centuryAcres burned
2,170
Lives lost
102
Structures destroyed
2,200
Year
2023
Estimated damage
~$5.5 billion in estimated damages
Duration
Town largely destroyed within hours on Aug 8
Evacuations
Thousands fled; many trapped as the fire overran Lahaina
What happened
The Lahaina Fire on Maui was the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century. Fanned by hurricane-force winds, it destroyed the historic town of Lahaina almost entirely and killed over 100 people.
Cause
Power lines / dry vegetation (wind-driven)
Location
Maui (Lahaina), Hawaii
Key facts
- ▪Deadliest U.S. wildfire in over 100 years
- ▪Destroyed historic Lahaina town
- ▪Wind-driven during a passing hurricane
- ▪Small acreage but catastrophic loss of life
Replay the Lahaina Fire (Maui) in the spread simulator
This centers the wildfire-spread simulator on the Lahaina Fire (Maui)’s documented ignition point and replays its conditions on 2023-08-08 — the day’s strongest wind, temperature, and humidity from the open-meteo historical archive (which set the fire-day fuel moisture) — run through the same Rothermel surface-fire model used across FireRisk. Press ▶ Simulate to watch how fire tends to move under those conditions.
⚠️ Educational reconstruction — not the real fire perimeter
This is a simplified model of how fire spreads under the 2023 conditions, not the Lahaina Fire (Maui)’s actual burned area, official progression, or a prediction of any current fire. It cannot account for real fuels, suppression, spotting, or how conditions changed hour to hour. For real-time fire information always follow Watch Duty, official agencies, and local authorities — and call 911 in an emergency.
Loading the 2023 fire-day conditions…
Reminder: an educational reconstruction of fire spread under the 2023 conditions — not the Lahaina Fire (Maui)’s actual perimeter, an official record, or a forecast. Modeled spread, direction, and timing are illustrative only. Never rely on it for any safety decision.
Timeline
Morning, Aug 8
A wind-driven fire is reported near Lahaina amid hurricane-force gusts.
Afternoon
Fire explodes through Lahaina; residents flee, some into the ocean.
Aug 8 evening
Historic Lahaina town is largely destroyed; over 100 killed.
Aftermath & what changed
Hawaiian Electric faced massive litigation over power-line ignition, and investigations focused on warning-siren failures and water-access problems. A multibillion-dollar settlement followed, and Lahaina’s rebuild remains years-long.
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Lahaina Fire (Maui) FAQ
When was the Lahaina Fire (Maui) and where did it burn?
The Lahaina Fire (Maui) started Aug 8, 2023 in Maui (Lahaina), Hawaii, and was contained Aug 2023.
How many acres did the Lahaina Fire (Maui) burn?
The Lahaina Fire (Maui) burned approximately 2,170 acres.
How many people died in the Lahaina Fire (Maui)?
Approximately 102 people died in the Lahaina Fire (Maui).
What caused the Lahaina Fire (Maui)?
Power lines / dry vegetation (wind-driven).
Figures are approximate and compiled from official agency reporting; totals for recent fires may still be revised. FireRisk.ai is an independent wildfire-risk service.