San Francisco Mayor London Breed was among thousands of tourists who had to be evacuated from the Hawaiian island of Maui as wildfires swept across the holiday hotspot.
Breed, 49, took a break from running her crime-ridden town this week when wildfires broke out, prompting her to flee to Honolulu, Politico reports.
The mayor has not spoken publicly about the wildfires and her office did not immediately respond to questions about her whereabouts when contacted her.
Her ill-timed vacation comes as she finds herself in the midst of a bitter re-election battle, and some voters may question her absence at a time when San Francisco is being swept by homelessness, crime and outdoor drug use.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed was among the thousands who had to be evacuated ahead of the wildfires in Hawaii. She is pictured speaking in San Francisco on Wednesday, August 2, 2023
When the forest fires broke out on Tuesday, holidaymakers were left behind
Officials said at least 56 people died in the inferno and warned the number could “rise significantly” in the coming days
About 4,000 tourists — reportedly including Breed — were left stranded on Maui after the wildfires broke out Tuesday
The wildfires erupted after drought-like conditions combined with high temperatures turned Hawaii into a powder keg and strong winds from Hurricane Dora fanned the flames.
On Wednesday, officials provisionally assumed that at least 36 people died in the fire. That number was updated to 53 on Thursday by Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, who warned the number could “rise significantly” in the coming days.
Stunning footage from a helicopter pilot showed the extent of destruction over the town of Lahiana, which has borne the brunt of wildfires since Tuesday’s outbreak.
Officials said around 80 percent of the fires in the city had been contained as of Thursday night, but many residents were left without electricity and running water.
As the fires raged on Wednesday, locals in Lahiana had also created a chart to monitor the high number of missing people after the fires also crippled cellphone service in the area.
A forest fire blazes in Kihei, Hawaii late Wednesday, August 9, 2023. Tourists ran to escape the blaze as it could develop into one of the deadliest wildfires in the United States in recent years
Hawaii Army National Guard CH47 Chinook helicopters conduct aerial water bucket drops on the island of Maui to help fight the wildfires on Maui, Hawaii, Aug. 9, 2023
Lahaina almost disappeared from the map after fierce wildfires burned 271 buildings
After hearing reports that her home was destroyed along with her pets, Steff Baku-Kirkman responds after it was believed that wildfires caused by high winds destroyed much of the historic town of Lahaina
The crisis has also raised concerns about Hawaii’s tourism-dependent economy, which had shown signs of life in the wake of the pandemic this year.
According to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, more than 1.5 million tourists have flocked to Maui so far in 2023 — a 6 percent increase from the same period last year.
At the peak of the pandemic in 2020, the number of tourists visiting the island dropped to just 793,000.
In 2021, around 2.3 million tourists flocked to the island, and in 2022 the number almost returned to pre-pandemic levels when 2.9 million people came to the state.
But just as the state was changing fortunes, it was being devastated by the wildfires that Green fears could result in over a billion dollars in structural damage.
Addressing Hawaii’s fight to contain wildfires on Thursday, President Biden said he will “put help into the hands of the people who desperately need help now.”
President Biden addressed Hawaii’s ongoing fight to contain the fires in a video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Thursday.
“We just approved a disaster declaration for Hawaii that will provide assistance to the people who are in dire need of help right now,” he said.
“I have ordered that we step up our support for these brave firefighters, first responders and rescuers who work 24 hours a day and are risking their lives.”
“I just hung up the call before coming down here this morning for a long chat with Gov. Josh Green. (I) let him know that I will make sure the state gets whatever it needs from the federal government to recover.”
“FEMA is augmenting disaster relief personnel on the island and will not help survivors access government assistance.”
“We are working as quickly as possible to fight these fires and evacuate residents and tourists.” In the meantime, our prayers are with the people of Hawaii, but not just our prayers.
“Any assets that we have will be available to them.” They have seen their homes and businesses destroyed and some have lost loved ones. And it’s not over yet.’