Lahaina blaze now the deadliest in modern U.S. history: Recap

The death toll in the wildfires rose to 93, Maui County officials said, as recovery teams continued their sweep of charred neighborhoods. Two had been identified but their names were not released.

The county also reported that the 678-acre Upcountry/Kula Fire was 60% contained, the 2,170-acre Lahaina fire was at 85%; and the Pulehu/Kihei fire was fully contained.

Hawaiian Electric said power had been restored to 60% of customers who had been without since Tuesday, as crews continued working to get about 5,000 other customers back online.

Essential service providers — a market and two gas stations — reopened in Lahaina, and free shuttles were being offered from shelters to stores in the area.

Gov. Josh Green said state officials were investigating whether anything more could have been done to activate sirens early enough to warn residents about wildfires.

He also noted that the fires were likely to be the largest natural disaster in Hawaii’s history and that damages could be close to $6 billion.

In evening update after he returned to Honolulu, Green said emergency housing would include more than 500 hotels rooms for survivors, and still more rooms for first responders. Airbnbs will be used, and “there ultimately will be rent subsidies,” he said.

Oprah Winfrey was allowed inside a shelter to comfort fire victims after she agreed to have her camera crew remain outside.

The famed banyan tree in the heart of Old Lahaina was still standing and county officials said it may survive.

In an update Sunday, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green emphasized the need for housing for survivors, evacuees, and first responders and other workers in Maui to search, recover, and rebuild.

His address came via a video recorded at his office desk following his return to Honolulu from Maui.

Green said the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have pledged to help clear and rebuild historic Lahaina and other fire-ravaged areas.

Emergency housing will include more than 500 hotels rooms for survivors, and even more rooms for first responders, he said. The "Airbnb-industry" will provide short-term rentals for longer time frames for local workers, whose housing costs may be supplemented by the government, the governor said.

"There ultimately will be rent subsidies," he said.

Evacuees of Maui's historic fires are being offered free shuttles to stores in Central Maui under a service that launched Sunday, Maui County officials said.

The 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. shuttle takes those in Central Maui shelters to stores in the area, the county said in a statement.

The news came as county officials also noted Napili Market in Lahaina has reopened with 24-hour access for consumers.

Also, two Lahaina gas stations Minit Stop and Kahana Gateway Shell, have also reopened with the help of the restoration of electricity lines, the county said.

The county also reported that the 678-acre Upcountry/Kula Fire was 60% contained on Sunday; the 2,170-acre Lahaina fire, initially said to be 100% contained on Aug. 8, was on Sunday 85% contained; and the Pulehu/Kihei fire, no acreage given, was fully contained.

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell briefed Biden tonight from Maui, according to the White House, which did not release details. He was also briefed this morning, the White House said.

U.S. Fire Administrator Lori Moore-Merrell, also speaking in Maui, echoed Hawaii’s governor in saying the fires, the deadliest in modern U.S. history, were all but unstoppable.

"This fire was very fast, moving in horizontal nature, low to the ground and outpaced anything the firefighters could have done in the early hours," she said. "The heroic actions of the firefighters in response to this wildfire in Maui needs to be commended. FEMA is on the ground and will continue to support Hawaii throughout the response and recovery process, ensuring resilience is part of that plan.” 

Hawaiian Electric said today that it had restored power to 60% of customers who have been without since Tuesday.

Efforts to get electricity back to 5,000 other customers in West Maui and Upcountry were continuing, the utility said.

Because of damage to the system at the distribution and substation levels, the company said, the system is still fragile, and intermittent outages may continue. All Maui customers were asked to limit nonessential uses.

A Lahaina resident said cellphones are ringing in body bags as survivors desperately look for their missing family members.

Pointing to structures that belonged to his aunt and uncle, Charlie, 55, who has lived in Lahaina his whole life, said, “So, I know every family that lost their home.”

The fire moved quickly though the area, leaving it looking "like a war zone," Charlie said.

Oprah Winfrey was initially denied access to an emergency shelter in Maui today, but she did visit with fire victims after agreeing to leave her camera crew outside, Maui County said today.

The county invited Winfrey to continue to lift up the community’s spirit and said it appreciated her for understanding its policy “of no camera crews or reporters” in emergency shelters.

"Her visit inside of the shelter today was truly heartwarming," the county's Instagram said.