Wildfires burning in Hawaii

[Paco Dennis]

Would like to hear about the history of that house.

I found this...

Looking at the home standing among the ruins of Lahanai, it seemed like freakish good luck, but Tamura, for one, was not surprised.

Her grandfather had spent his career working in the nearby sugar mill and knew what was required in that microclimate when he designed his own home, after retiring in the 1950s.

“He built the house out of cement because of the bugs and dry rot in Hawaii,” she said. “I’m sure it survived because of his knowledge and his construction skills.”
https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/maui-fires-lahaina-hawaii-houses-photo-18295518.php

 

[rgp]

I found this...

Looking at the home standing among the ruins of Lahanai, it seemed like freakish good luck, but Tamura, for one, was not surprised.

Her grandfather had spent his career working in the nearby sugar mill and knew what was required in that microclimate when he designed his own home, after retiring in the 1950s.

“He built the house out of cement because of the bugs and dry rot in Hawaii,” she said. “I’m sure it survived because of his knowledge and his construction skills.”
https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/maui-fires-lahaina-hawaii-houses-photo-18295518.php

"He built the house out of cement " ........ ?

Even the roof ? the porch hand rails ?etc. All of which look unscathed ?? In a 1000 degree fire ?

I wonder if maybe some photo trickery is involved here ?

 

[JustBonee]

Concrete construction -- interesting
... the roof looks like tile, which can be clay or concrete.

The guy had the right idea anyway .... Now everyone is taking notice of his innovation.

 

[John cycling]

Lone house, surrounded by scorched earth, survives wildfire

Is that a concrete or rammed earth structure? It has a metal roof which makes me think that it is.
One reason Lahaina burned so quickly, in addition to the condiitons, was due to all the stick structures.

 

[Remy]

Struggling to find housing. I thought of this immediately knowing what fires have done to areas in California. Decreased inventory, increased prices and profits for those building max profit apartments. Prices were already very high I can imagine. Time to load tiny houses on ships like storage containers and get housing to those people. Things can be done. Perhaps I'm ignorant and naive but what we have isn't working for people in the long run. At least not for all.

Another power company causing another devastating fire?

 

[caroln]

I would think the extreme high heat would make concrete crumble. I know little on the subject, but it just seems that without the fire dept. to cool it down with water, the sustained heat would cause damage even to concrete.

 

[Lara]

Another power company causing another devastating fire?

So many factors at play here. Weren't there hurricane force winds going on at the same time? Did that guy taking the video of the downed powerline call the fire dept and the energy company immediately?

The red flags around are to warn of rough waters, not fires, so I can understand why the residence didn't take that as a fire warning. Hurricanes were in their radar, not wildfires. Interesting that the ocean is what saved lives despite rough sea warnings...but I don't see many boats in videos.

The fire department is responsible for the fire hydrants that weren't working. What about the various emergency alert systems like phone texts, and sirens weren't working. So many people responsible for this mess.

 

[David777]

California has had Santa Ana Wind firestorms for decades. The first large one was the 1961 Bel Air firestorm in Hollywood Hills that destroyed celebrity mansions. My relatives drove us through shortly afterward. Then in 1991 the Oakland Hills wind driven urban firestorm was the first of several more in the north state.

Such fires have been repeating while building code improvements have been piecemeal with many wood structures continuing to be built in fire prone areas and large numbers built in fire prone zones with aesthetic vegetation around home like jungles because such increases real estate values. Same thing in Hawaii.

Where I live in the SFBA, are plenty of multi million dollar homes in surrounding dense oak woodland hills that are sooner or later given hot windy fall conditions, likely to make following years news headlines. People have been told what to do but are gambling, it won't happen to them. Using fireproof building materials works but costs more money than real estate firms and their investors are willing to build and sell since home prices (due to them) are already ridiculously inflated. Clearing trees, vegetation etc around homes works too, but many would rather leave such if they think it will add a few more bucks when they eventually sell.

I'll predict one of the next big California wildfire news will be about the northeast Sacramento foothills above Folsom through Roseville up towards Auburn and Placerville where large numbers of cheap wood structures have been built within fire prone trees and vegetation with little buffers. The yellow areas are structures.
https://caltopo.com/map.html#ll=38.81066,-121.04207&z=11&b=n&a=c,structures

Same map area without overlays:
https://caltopo.com/map.html#ll=38.81066,-121.04207&z=11&b=mbh

This is what part of that firetrap area looks like more magnified. Note all the small winding in foothills residential roads.

https://caltopo.com/map.html#ll=38.70862,-120.9894&z=13&b=mbr&a=c,structures

 

[Lara]

Unfortunately, it was tourist season in Lahaina...so there were more people there and only had one road. Here where I am too. It's got me more concerned now about leaving the island quickly.

I do have a free boat dock across the street with access to the Sound (calmer water than the ocean) for a quick escape I guess. My daughter and son-in-law have a large new Jet-Ski so they're all set to get out quickly if need be. Only fits two.

I trust our Fire Department and utility companies...but I will be double checking on them now. Our Building Codes are crazy-good!! I've got a fortified Metal Roof and that "bad-boy" is NEVER coming off. Apparently it will be put to the test soon as they are updating the hurricane predictions to 4 major ones this year due to a warming Atlantic Ocean. It's been about 4 years since we've had a Hurricane.

 

[Tish]

My friend told me that they are looking for about 12-1500 unaccounted for people. Jared, my friend, said that they found 3 bodies in a home that appeared the people were overcome by smoke and couldn't get out in time before the fire overcame them. If you have never been involved in a fire, I can personally tell you that smoke is your greatest threat .

At first, it doesn't seem all that bad, but then your eyes water that bad, you can't see anything, including finding the doorway and then you become very tired and try to lay down, but that's a mistake. You have to keep moving and get away from the smoke before it fills your lungs. The smoke burns your throat and chokes you like someone has their hand around your neck and you can't breath.

Thank you so much for the update, really appreciate it.

 

[JustBonee]

Still so many missing.

This always moves me - their song.

 

[WhatInThe]

Is that a concrete or rammed earth structure? It has a metal roof which makes me think that it is.
One reason Lahaina burned so quickly, in addition to the condiitons, was due to all the stick structures.

The owners thinks the metal roof and clearing foilage away from the structure to not give termite a path/bridge into the house helped. To me it was the metal roof, even the old asphalt roof might have faired better ie buy escape time. She said there flying pieces of wood on fire that landed on roofs and caused/started many fires.

The clearing foilage away from the structure also shows the value of land management on a large scale with fire breaks, clearings etc.

How 'miracle house' with red roof survived Maui wildfires

 

[mrstime]

So so sad, the President is there today. Then there is the hurricane hitting California, Thankfully my cousin in San Diego area is safe!