Missouri Task Force One members heading to Hawaii for search-and-rescue efforts
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Two members of Missouri Task Force One are heading to Hawaii to assist with search-and-rescue efforts following a deadly wildfire that has swept through Maui.
According to the Associated Press, at least 53 people have died from the wildfires and much of the historic Town of Lahaina has been destroyed.
A state of emergency has been declared for the entire island and nonessential travel is being discouraged.
The fires have also destroyed hundreds of structures in Maui, including homes and businesses.
Thousands of people are believed to be displaced, according to ABC News, and more than 11,000 people visiting the island were flown out Wednesday. More left early Thursday morning after more than 600 people were reported to have slept overnight at Kahului airport.
"This morning, FEMA issues an Order for Missouri Task Force Members to deploy to Hawaii as part of the incident support team to support the disaster going on out there right now," Boone County Fire Protection District Assistant Chief Gale Blomenkamp said. "One is being an operation section chief, the other one being a resource unit leader."
Blomenkamp said the operation section chief will be directing and managing the operation, "of the event that's going on out there as part of that incident support team."
The resource unit leader will be working, controlling, and keeping track of resources that are being deployed.
One has already left, and flew out of Columbia Regional Airport, while the other one is set to fly out of St. Louis Thursday night.
Blomenkamp said those two are expected to be deployed for up to two weeks.
"There's always a chance that we would have more members sent out as part of the incident support team," he said.
He said they will not be helping fight the fire, but they will help with "urban search and rescue, and wide area search type missions."
"We just wish everybody out there, you know stay safe and stay vigilant, and know that people here in Missouri are here to support them," Blomenkamp said.
The Red Cross is also expecting to deploy volunteers from Missouri and Arkansas. Donations to the Red Cross can be made online.
For those who may have family in that area they can’t reach, please call 1-800-RED-CROSS-4.
