Maui Wildfire Update: 'Still-burning Fires' Not Posing Active Threats; Firefighters Find It Hard To Contain Blaze in Urban Areas

Authorities disclosed that areas in Maui, which are encountering "still-burning fires," no longer pose active threats.

(Photo : Getty Images/Justin Sullivan)

The County of Maui, however, said that firefighting personnel find it difficult to fully contain the blaze in urban areas.

"While the containment percentages have not changed significantly over the past several days, the Maui Fire Department (MFD) wants to reassure the public that there are no active fire threats at this time. The fires are not advancing, but full containment can be more difficult to establish and determine in urban settings," the County of Maui said.

Still, the MFD vowed to continue utilizing the infrared technology as well as water drops to completely stop the fire.

Moreover, firefighters exhaust all measures to locate and address hot spots to fully extinguish these fires.

Fatalities, unaccounted individuals

So far, the death toll in the massive blaze has already climbed to 115.

Authorities said that search teams are searching around multi-story residential and commercial properties for retrieval operations.

Approximately 341 emergency personnel and 50 canine units are conducting the search operations.

Based on official records, around 1,000 to 1,100 individuals have remained unaccounted following the Maui wildfire disaster.

Meanwhile, more than 1,400 others who had originally been reported as unaccounted for by authorities have since been found safe and secured.

Officials said that both numbers are expected to fluctuate for the foreseeable future as additional reports of unaccounted for individuals are already submitted and recorded.

They said that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Maui Police Department (MPD) and other law enforcement agencies would continue to work diligently to make contact with individuals who have already been reported unaccounted for.

Mayor Richard Bissen thanked these personnel for their unwavering efforts to continue the search for the unaccounted individuals.

"The Maui Police Department, the FBI and other law enforcement agencies are doing critically important work. On behalf of our community, I want to express our gratitude for their efforts, care and compassion," Bissen said, who alsk expresses his sympathies to the many families affected by the wildfire who are having an extremely difficult time.

Meanwhile, Maui's Family Assistance Center has continued to work with families and individuals to gather DNA samples to assist with the identification process once residents report about their missing loved ones and relatives.

Maui County Prosecutor Andrew Martin ensured that DNA samples that are collected at the Family Assistance Center would only be used for identification of wildfire victims and survivors.

He noted that the DNA samples would not be stored or used for any other purposes.

Biden visit

President Joe Biden had visited the wildfire-stricken Lahaina to check the situation, not only of the place, but most importantly the residents.

Governor Josh Green expressed gratitude to the President for their "unwavering commitment of support to the people of Lāhainā as they heal and recover from the largest tragedy our state has ever experienced."

He stressed that the people of Lāhainā would need time to heal, to recover and to grieve.

"The world is watching, and we will show it the true strength of our culture, our people and all that we believe," Green said.