Marvel actress Brie Larson took to Instagram to help Team LAIRD athletes get a wider reach in their pursuit to find a way to contact their families in Hawaii. The US State of Hawaii is in turmoil as wildfires have caused havoc. The wildfire that started this week has only gotten worse and caused trouble for all the residents and tourists.
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Team LAIRD athletes are athletes connected with LAIRD apparel inspired by Laird Hamilton and Gabby Reece. The specific athletes in question are brothers Zane and Matty Schweitzer. The brothers are third-generation water sports athletes. Their grandfather was one of the co-founders of the sport of windsurfing.
Both of them hail from Maui, Hawaii. They co-own the Maui Sports Adventures company along with their family members. The brothers are not in Hawaii as of now and are in dire need of going back home. Their Instagram stories are filled with messages of awareness about the terrible situation in Hawaii. They have not been able to contact their family members in Maui.
LAIRD apparel posted on their Instagram Story stating, “If anyone has access to phone service or news on the fires in Lahaina, please let us know. Team LAIRD athletes @zaniac1 and @mat50 have not been able to get in contact with their families in 12 hours. We’d appreciate any help we can get.”
This Story was reposted by the ‘Captain Marvel’ actress so that it reaches a wider audience. She wrote, “please message @lairdapparel if you have info that can help.”
Matty and Zane are doing their best to help fund supplies to the state of Hawaii for people who are affected. Please go through their Instagram profiles and provide help as much as you can.
What caused the fires in Maui?
The fire in Maui started in the vegetation and it later aggravated into the population. Officials are still unclear as to what caused the fire that killed six people as of Wednesday, August 9, 2023.
According to CBS News, Maj. Gen. Kenneth Hara, commander general of the Hawaii Army National Guard, said, “We don’t know what actually ignited the fires, but we were made aware in advance by the National Weather Service that we were in a red flag situation — so that’s dry conditions for a long time, so the fuel, the trees, and everything, was dry.”
Before and after photographs of the fire damage in Lahaina, Maui.
Absolutely devastating. pic.twitter.com/rYfLYN2bAg
— KanekoaTheGreat (@KanekoaTheGreat) August 10, 2023
High winds due to Hurricane Dora, a Category 4 storm in the Pacific Ocean, and low humidity have aggravated the fire. Hurricane Dora has caused winds up to the speed of 60mph. In turn, this caused power outages and more chaos.
Further, CBS News states that “the areas most impacted include Lahaina, a residential and tourist area with a commercial district in West Maui; Kula, a residential area in the inland, mountainous Upcounty region; and Kihei, a mix of homes, condos, short-term vacation rentals and visitor facilities in South Maui.”
The scene in Lahaina, Maui this morning is absolutely devastating.
The entire town is being destroyed by an intense wildfire, forcing residents to sheek shelter in the ocean.
Make no mistake, climate change is making scenes like this more frequent. pic.twitter.com/dttFnAwEeJ
— Edgar McGregor (@edgarrmcgregor) August 9, 2023
Scientists claim that the vegetation in Hawaii has become dry and prone to fires. The latest wildfire has caused hundreds to be evacuated from their homes and thousands to be left without power. Many people even jumped into the ocean to avoid getting caught in the flames. They were later rescued by the coast guards.