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<\/source><\/picture>As the deadliest U.S. wildfire in over a century has claimed 93 lives in Maui, Hawaii, with the death toll expected to rise as search efforts continue, local churches are providing help despite having suffered significant losses themselves.<\/p>\n
The fast-moving blaze has destroyed the historic resort town of Lahaina, causing an estimated $5.5 billion in damages, and burning over 2,100 acres, according to Reuters<\/a>, which said the death toll had reached 93 on Saturday, according to the Maui County website, surpassing the previous record of 85 deaths in a 2018 fire in Paradise, California.<\/p>\n Hawaii Gov. Josh Green has warned that the death toll could increase as more victims are discovered. Maui County Police Chief John Pelletier stated that dogs trained to detect bodies had covered only 3% of the search area.<\/p>\n The Federal Emergency Management Agency reported that more than 2,200 structures were damaged or destroyed in Lahaina.<\/p>\n Residents questioned the state\u2019s emergency notification systems, as sirens intended to warn of natural disasters never sounded, and power and cellular outages hampered other alerts, according to the newswire. Officials said a terrifying mix of elements, such as failures in the communication network and wind gusts reaching 80 miles per hour, made coordination almost impossible.<\/p>\n The disaster began just after midnight on Tuesday in Kula, 35 miles from Lahaina. Power was knocked out in Lahaina, and a brush fire was reported but contained by 10 a.m. However, the Lahaina fire flared up around 3:30 p.m., leading to frantic evacuations. Some residents described having little warning as the fire destroyed the town.<\/p>\n In a stunning contrast, the historic Maria Lanakila Catholic Church in Lahaina remained untouched, with viewers hailing the phenomenon as an act of God. Msgr. Terrence Watanabe expressed shock at the apparent divine intervention, and members of the church community expressed gratitude, according to<\/a> New York Post.<\/p>\n \u201cBasically, what we know is the fact that all of Lahaina Town has been consumed by fire. It\u2019s all gone. The church, Maria Lanakila [Our Lady of Victory], is still standing, as is the rectory,\u201d he told<\/a> The Pillar.<\/p>\n Pastor Kawi Keahi and his wife, Shalia, who lost their home and the King\u2019s Chapel in Lahaina, spoke of escaping the blaze and helping others.<\/p>\n Shalia told\u00a0ABC News<\/a>\u00a0that their neighbor informed them that the fire was right above them, leading them to evacuate with their children and dog in their car.<\/p>\n \u201cThe traffic was congested. Everyone was trying to leave,\u201d recalled Pastor Keahi. While they were still on their way, the fire had crossed over past their home. The sky behind them was \u201cdark black \u2026 Like everything was just going up in flame,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile the people should have evacuated, they were walking around,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n \u201cIt kind of felt like people were kind of giving up,\u201d Shalia said.<\/p>\n Pastor Keahi said that many families were not as fortunate as they were, unable to leave the area with their loved ones. \u201cThey died with their families. My heart just breaks for them.\u201d<\/p>\n Shalia added: \u201cWe are thankful to be part of a big church. We have many locations. And so our church in Kahului is helping in the efforts to get supplies together. And as soon as we get the green light to go in and get supplies to the homes in Kahana and Napoli, \u2026 we are going to do that. We are providing a place to stay for the people that are coming out.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s the communities\u2019 faith that will bring comfort and prayer, the pastor said.<\/p>\n Pastor James Morocco of King Cathedral in Maui told Fox News<\/a> that his church has set up a relief fund for displaced people. \u201cA lot of people\u201d are helping, he said, expressing gratitude.<\/p>\n California Pastor Greg Laurie of\u00a0Harvest Christian Fellowship has also set up a relief fund to help the Maui-based congregation and others in the community.\u00a0<\/p>\n The effort will not only help Harvest members \u201crebuild their lives\u201d but also benefit \u201cother people in the community who\u2019ve been devastated by this,\u201d and provide \u201chope and comfort in the Name of Jesus,\u201d Laurie said in a video<\/a> message.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.christianpost.com\/images\/cache\/image\/14\/99\/149980_w_400_267.webp\")
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