It sounds like it was an actual firestorm where the fire is so powerful it creates its own wind and moves at breakneck speed outrunning anything. They had no chance, so terrible. What a sad sad situation. Feel terrible for the people there.
My niece is in Lahaina, texted with her yesterday. She said she was in a part of the town that didn't get hit so she was safe thankfully. She said its unbelievable the devastation.
The winds were primarily due to Hurricane Dora South, and a High pressure system riding North. Combination of which caused high winds in the Hawaii area and thus fanning the flames. It was like an inland fire version of the Perfect Storm. Terrible thing. The wind force velocity made this essentially uncontrollable.
In more normal situations grass fires are more controllable as they involve far less combustibles than forest fires but the wind gave this the fuel to combust anything in its path. I've seen grass fires you can put out with a garden house. You wouldn't put this one out with water bombing. Was spreading too fast and with fury.
Such a terrifying event. People would have had little time to flee and the visions of people fleeing into the ocean to escape the fire, something that will never be forgotten. Just speaks to how quickly this swept through the town and area.
