The death toll from the deadliest US wildfire in almost a century, which destroyed the ancient town of Lahaina on the Hawaiian island of Maui last year, has increased to 102, authorities announced Monday. Claudette Heermance, 68, died on March 28 in hospice care in Honolulu from injuries sustained in the fire. The Maui Police Department confirmed the fatality, using information from the Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office.
Dr. Masahiko Kobayashi, the Honolulu medical examiner, stated that Heermance had burns on 20% of her body and that her case was exacerbated by a number of additional problems.
She was initially transported to Maui’s hospital on the day of the fire, but was transferred to Oahu the next day to be treated at the state’s sole burn unit. She entered hospice almost four months later.
Other reasons for death included cardiovascular illness, end-stage renal disease, and pressure ulcers, according to another medical examiner’s official who declined to be identified.
The August 8 wildfire was already the deadliest in the United States in more than a century. The fires engulfed the historic town of Lahaina, destroying 3,000 buildings and displacing 12,000 residents.
Many people were unable to evacuate in time to avoid the fire. Some people plunged into the ocean to escape the flames.
Officials verified the 101st fatality in February.
The ages of the fire victims ranged from 7 to 97, with more than two-thirds being in their 60s or older, according to the Maui police list of known victims.
