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People in Hawaii flee into ocean to escape wildfire destroying historic Maui tourist town
KAHULUI, Hawaii (AP) - A wildfire tore through the heart of Maui on Wednesday with alarming speed and ferocity, destroying homes and businesses in a historic tourist town and forcing panicked residents to jump into the ocean to flee the flames.
Fire was widespread in Lahaina Town, including on Front Street, a popular shopping and dining area, County of Maui spokesperson Mahina Martin said by phone early Wednesday. Traffic has been very heavy as people try to evacuate the area, and officials asked people who weren't in an evacuation area to shelter in place to avoid adding to the traffic, she said.
Photos posted by the county overnight showed a line of flames blazing across an intersection and leaping above buildings in the town center that dates to the 1700s and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
“Do NOT go to Lahaina Town,” the county tweeted hours before all roads in and out of West Maui's biggest community were closed to everyone except emergency personnel.
https://www.cp24.com/world/people-in-hawaii-flee-into-ocean-to-escape-wildfire-destroying-historic-maui-tourist-town-1.6512304