SALT LAKE CITY — President Biden spoke to Hawaii Gov. Josh Green on Thursday after wildfires in Maui killed at least three dozen people and caused shocking devastation to the town of Lahaina, according to the administration.
“He expressed his deep condolences for the lives lost and vast destruction of land and property,” the White House said.
Mr. Biden signed a major emergency declaration to deliver federal aid on top of work underway by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the National Guard, the U.S. Coast Guard and other federal agencies.
“Anyone who’s lost a loved one, whose home has been damaged or destroyed, is going to get help immediately,” Mr. Biden said during an unrelated event in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Mr. Biden urged people to visit DisasterAssistance.gov to see if they qualify for extra assistance.
He also said he is surging federal manpower to help the firefighters and first responders on the scene.
“Every asset we have will be available to them,” Mr. Biden said.
Winds from a distant hurricane fueled the wildfires in part. The blaze ripped through Lahaina, devastating homes, a school, a church and tourist hotspots and leaving charred wreckage across many blocks.
Some people fled the flames by rushing into the Pacific Ocean, according to reports from the scene.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.
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