logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2023
28m 34s

Wildfires in Hawaii

BBC News
About this episode

At least 96 people died in wildfires in Hawaii, making them the deadliest in the US in more than a century.

CBS reporter Jessica Kartalija is on the island of Maui and tells us about why the toll is so large, and the questions being asked in its aftermath.

What can be done to mitigate against wildfires and make towns and cities more resilient? We talk to Dr Kimiko Barrett, an adviser to the Biden administration on wildfires, and analyst at Headwaters Economics.

And Americast host Justin Webb explains how the events are playing out in American politics.

You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere

Today’s episode is hosted by James Cook. It was made by Chris Flynn with Joe Wilkinson and Clare Williamson. The technical director is Gareth Jones and the editor was Damon Rose.

00:00 - James Cook’s experience of reporting on wildfires 02:54 - The situation in Maui 12:02 - Why the fires spread so fast, and the political reaction

Up next
Today
What Is Andy Burnham's Missile Offer To Ukraine?
Today, Andy Burnham will hand over blueprints to Ukraine so Kyiv can build its own long-range missiles.On a visit to Kyiv to meet with President Zelensky, the PM promised to keep up the pressure on Russia despite Moscow's "outrageous threats". Diplomatic correspondent James Landa ... Show More
33m 20s
Jun 12
The Keir Starmer Interview
Today, Chris speaks to Sir Keir Starmer, the prime minister, about the resignation of his defence secretary John Healey, his plans for the Defence Investment Plan, and whether or not he’ll fight a potential leadership election.You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If ... Show More
25m 5s
May 3
Electioncast: The Mega May Run In
Today, we look at the biggest set of elections in the UK since the 2024 General Election.Laura and Paddy run through what the polls tell us, how insiders are feeling, and the challenges each of the parties face in different parts of Britain.Political correspondent Joe Pike joins ... Show More
42m 20s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2023
Looking for answers – The Hawaii wildfires
The deadliest wildfires to hit the US in over a century have turned vast swathes of the island of Maui to ash and taken the lives of at least 99 people. The governor of Hawaii, Josh Green, has warned that the number killed will rise as only 25% of the affected area has been searc ... Show More
20m 38s
Aug 2023
Through the fire: an update from Hawaii
<p>As the death toll surpasses 100, we report from Maui where fires have ravaged the island in the deadliest American wildfire in over a century. Why was this one so <a href="https://www.economist.com/united-states/2023/08/11/why-the-fires-in-hawaii-have-been-so-bad?utm_campaign= ... Show More
23m 48s
Aug 2023
Through the fire: an update from Hawaii
<p>As the death toll surpasses 100, we report from Maui where fires have ravaged the island in the deadliest American wildfire in over a century. Why was this one so <a href="https://www.economist.com/united-states/2023/08/11/why-the-fires-in-hawaii-have-been-so-bad?utm_campaign= ... Show More
23m 48s
Aug 2023
At least 6 people dead in catastrophic Maui wildfires
Officials say at least 6 people have died in the “unprecedented” wildfires that are raging through Hawaii’s Big Island and Maui. Hawaii Gov. Josh Green says much of Lahaina, the historic whaling village and tourism hotspot on Maui, is destroyed. Hurricane Dora and high pressure o ... Show More
47m 42s
Aug 2023
What Lahaina Lost in Hawaii’s Wildfires
<p>Last week, wildfires broke out on the Hawaiian island of Maui that became the deadliest in the United States in over a century. The town of Lahaina, once the royal capital of the kingdom of Hawaii, was one of the places hit hardest — its historic center was decimated, includin ... Show More
28m 1s
Aug 2024
Another Take: After the Maui fires, has more Hawaiian heritage been lost?
On Friday, Hawaii's largest utility company agreed to pay the largest share of a settlement worth more than $4 billion to plaintiffs affected by last year's deadly wildfires in Maui. Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on August 17, 2023. N ... Show More
21m 47s