Lahaina woman is critically-ill after SIXTY PERCENT of her body was burned by Hawaii wildfire while she tried to help elderly landlady to escape flames
- READ MORE: Maui fire live updates – follow along for all of the latest coverage
- Laurie Allen, 64, was trying to help her elderly landlady flee the growing flames
- The physiotherapist remains in Oahu’s hospital in a critical condition
A Lahaina woman is in critical condition after being caught in the horrific wildfires while trying to help her elderly landlady escape their home.
Physical therapist Laurie Allen, 64, suffered burns on sixty percent of her body after fleeing the home she shared with her husband Perry and their landlady, who has not been named.
Authorities have confirmed that 36 people died in the blaze, but the death toll is expected to rise dramatically as officials continue to assess the devastation in Maui and Lahaina. Hundreds remain missing.
Laurie was rushed to Straub Hospital in Oahu, and remains in a critical condition in their ICU burn unit as of Thursday afternoon, according to a GoFundMe set up by her sister-in-law.
The fundraiser is also hoping to raise money for Laurie and Perry, 61, to find a new home after they lost the $1.3million property they were renting in the fire.
Physical therapist Laurie Allen, 64, suffered burns on sixty percent of her body after fleeing the couple’s home close to the shore
Allen’s home was in the area red circled. Lahaina’s famed oldest tree – which was destroyed – and its courthouse are pictured in the foreground of this snap
Penny Allen-Hood, Perry’s sister, wrote on the page: ‘We are praying that by the time Laurie gets released from Straub Hospital that our collective gift is enough to provide the miracle of a residence after the fires that have ravaged Lahaina.
‘Perry asks for our prayers. I am asking that we put ‘feet to our compassion’ by donating to this couple whose life in Paradise just got destroyed.
‘La is burned over 60% of her body, so her condition remains critical. I was told that the reason she waited so long to evacuate was because she was helping their elderly landlady to escape.’
So far more than $13,000 dollars have been raised from the $30,000 goal, as the true level of devastation on the island becomes clearer.
Hundreds of residents and tourists remain missing, with aerial photos showing the coast of the island being entirely torched by the merciless wildfire.
British musician Mick Fleetwood has been left ‘devastated’ after his restaurant – close to where the Allen’s’ live – was razed to the ground.
Fleetwood Mac’s frontman opened Fleetwood’s on Front Street in 2012, and said that his main priority is ‘the safety of our dear staff and team members’.
Aerial images show that the restaurant – famous for its beef wellington – has been completely destroyed by the wildfires blazing across Maui for two days
Laurie was rushed to Straub Hospital in Oahu, and remains in a critical condition in their ICU burn unit, according to a GoFundMe set up by her sister-in-law
The fundraiser is also hoping to raise money for Laurie and her husband Perry, 61, to find a new home after they lost the $1.3million property they were renting in the fire
Aerial images show the utter devastation of Lahaina after wildfires burned through the small town
The Hawaii Department of Transportation confirmed that Maui’s Kahului Airport is open, with thousands stranded there trying to escape the island
In a statement, he said: ‘This is a devastating moment for Maui, and many are suffering unimaginable loss.
‘On behalf of myself and my family, I share my heartfelt thoughts and prayers for the people of Maui.
‘We are committed to supporting the community and those affected by this disaster in the days and months and years to come.’
Officials are yet to confirm the precise origin of the fire, but it spread quickly as it was being fanned by strong winds from Hurricane Dora.
Those gusts, coupled with dry conditions on Maui and low humidity, spelled disaster for residents, many of whom escaped with seconds to spare.
President Biden has also declared a major disaster in Maui County and ordered federal aid to help state and local recovery efforts.
State officials are working with hotels and airlines to try to evacuate thousands of tourists to another island
Hundreds of residents are still missing after the fire, which swept through the small town after starting on August 8
President Joe Biden has declared a major emergency in Hawaii, allowing residents and businesses access to federal funding
Family members have been urged to contact the Red Cross as well as local hospitals in a bid to locate their relatives after communication lines have been severed due to the level of destruction by the fire.
Frantic relatives are sharing a Google document to update one another on their loved ones’ whereabouts.
Maui firefighters and emergency services are overwhelmed with the scale of the blaze in the historic town of Lahaina – where 800 hectares of land and 271 buildings have been ‘decimated’.
State officials are working with hotels and airlines to try to evacuate thousands of tourists to another island.
The Hawaii Department of Transportation confirmed that Maui’s Kahului Airport is open, with thousands stranded there trying to escape the island.
As fires closed in all the way up to the shoreline, frantic locals jumped into the water in the harbor to escape the flames on Tuesday night. Twelve people were rescued from the waves by boats.
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