Maui wildfires live updates: Six active fires are burning on Maui and Big Island, officials confirm and 2,000 acres are already burned

After Hawaii Governor Josh Green warned that the current death toll of 53 will 'significantly rise', an official with the Hawaii department of defense said unconfirmed reports suggest 1,000 people are still missing.

Jeff Hickman, the public affairs director for the Hawaii Department of Defense, told CNN that 'it's a very large number' when asked about the mounting deaths. 

He added that people are using social media to try and locate their missing loved ones, and some locals in Lahiana were seen using a Google spreadsheet to keep track of those who had been found. 

In a video posted Thursday to X, formerly known as Twitter, the president gave remarks about the crisis shortly after signing a disaster relief bill.

He said the legislation will 'get aid in the hands of the people desperately needing help now.' 

Fleetwood Mac frontman Mick Fleetwood said the inferno razed his restaurant, Fleetwood's on Front Street, to the ground on Thursday.

The British musician, 76, said that he has lived in the area for 'several decades', and he is 'heartbroken' and 'committed to supporting the community'. 

Officials say investigations have found an additional 17 people died in the wildfires, bringing the total to 53.

On Wedesday, 36 people were confirmed dead, and authorities warn the number could continue to rise in the coming days. 

A 64-year-old woman suffered burns to a staggering sixty percent of her body after she tried to help her elderly landlady flee the fires. 

Laurie Allen was rushed to hospital and remains in critical condition after her selfless act, with her $1.3 million home also burning up in the blaze. 

Hawaii Governor Josh Green said Thursday the death toll, which currently stands at at least 36 people, could rise 'significantly' ahead of an updated number expected later in the evening.

Green warned the disaster could eclipse the 1960 tsunami that killed 61 people as the state's worst ever natural disaster.

'I'll tell you, by the time this disaster is all described, I'm sure there will be dozens of people that lost their lives and billions of dollars of property that was destroyed,' he said. 

Officials in the town of Lahiana have banned all 'unauthorized entry' into the area 'due to biohazard and safety concerns.'

'We are asking the community for their patience as first responders continue their efforts to suppress the active fire and prevent it from spreading to other areas,' the Maui Police Department said in a statement. 

'Arrangements to allow residents into the area will be announced at a later time.'

Coast Guard officials announced that they have rescued 14 people who fled the wildfires on Maui by going into the Pacific Ocean.

A 45-foot Response Boat-Medium from Coast Guard Maui and a Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin from Air Station Barbers Point took part in the rescue efforts, Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, a Pentagon spokesman, said.

He noted that all 14 are listed in stable condition.

Maui County officials said Thursday that the wildfire that destroyed Lahaina is now 80 percent contained.

It is one of six fires raging on Maui and the Big Island, but the county government said the Pulehu fire is also 70 percent contained.

Officials are now assessing the Upcountry fire as they focus on the areas of Olinda and Upper Kula.

Mental health services are being expanded through the Maui Community Mental Health Center for wildfire victims, the state Department of Health said.

'The Maui Community Mental Health Center has been serving this community since 1967 and understands that disasters of this magnitude can affect the mental well-being of our community,' the department said in a statement.

Clinics will be open from 8am through 4.30pm Monday through Sunday.

The oldest house in Maui has been razed to the ground by deadly wildfires that are currently ravaging the islands of Hawaii.

The blaze ran riot through the historic town of Lahaina decimating the popular tourist attraction that dates back to the 1700s.

One of the buildings that was destroyed was the The Baldwin Home, which was  originally in 1834 and was the oldest house still standing on the island. 

Portable mobile hotspots have arrived in Maui to help bring internet service to thousands of people.

Many on the island have been unable to call for help since the wildfires began, or let their loved ones know they are safe.

The state capitol in Honolulu will fly both the Hawaii state flag and the American flag at half-staff until further notice, Gov. Josh Green announced.

He issued the order to represent the state's mourning of the dozens of people who have been killed in the massive wildfires.

Horrifying images taken at daybreak today shows the extent of the damage in Lahaina, the Maui town that was entirely torched by a merciless wildfire on Tuesday. 

Thirty-six people were killed, dozens injured and hundreds remain missing as a result of the fire that remains a mystery to many residents. 

Local officials still do not know what the precise origin of the fire was. It spread quickly and ferociously because it was fanned by strong winds from the passing Hurricane Dora. 

United Airlines announced on Thursday that its flights to Kahului Airport in Maui have been canceled so planes can fly empty to the airport, and be used to bring passengers back to the mainland.

'Safety is our first priority for our customers and employees, and we are closely monitoring the devastating conditions in Maui,' it tweeted.

Six active fires on Maui and the Big Island are still raging, Hawaii Emergency Management officials said.

They noted that about 2,000 acres have already burned, but that number is expected to increase as aerial damage assessment continues.

As the residents of Maui awake to another day of destruction caused by a devastating wildfire that has so far claimed 36 lives and left hundreds homeless, many are wondering where the island's richest landowners are - and what they're prepared to do to help. 

Oprah, Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison, Clint Eastwood and Steven Tyler are among big names with homes on Maui but none have commented yet on how they intend to help those in need. 

Bezos' fiancée Lauren Sanchez posted on Instagram that the fires were 'breaking her heart', but he is yet to offer a statement. 

The Maui Humane Society is asking locals to help foster animals to make space for incoming injured or lost pets.

They are also asking for donations of pet supplies, food and money.

'With our population over capacity before this tragedy, we are running extremely low on space, supplies and fosters. As we are experiencing tragedy or know someone who is, we will need to band together as a community for both our humans and animals. If you are in a position to help, please do—and there are multiple ways to help,' the Humane Society posted on Facebook Wednesday night.

'We need SOS Dog Fosters. Come into the shelter and temporarily foster a dog. We are expecting an inundation of hundreds of animals who have been burned, lost during the evacuation process and those in need of critical care due to smoke inhalation. We need the kennel space to be able to house these animals in hopes of reuniting them with their Ohana's once this is all over.'

Apple's Emergency SOS system has been credited with saving a family from the deadly wildfires sweeping across an island in Hawaii.

Michael Miraflor claims that his relatives were caught in their vehicle while trying to flee Maui when the blaze started to engulf them. 

Five of his loved ones were in a white van but were unable to call for help after cell phone towers went down – leaving thousands without a way to contact emergency services or relatives.

Kahului Airport officials are expected to assess the damage there with FEMA and Gov. Josh Green, Sen. Brian Schatz announced.

He said operations are ongoing 'so we are careful not to interfere with search and rescue or fire suppression.

'Thanks to everyone for their solidarity with Maui,' he said.

State Sen. Angus McKelvey told CNN on Thursday: 'We need desperate help.'

'Right now it is, a warzone really skims the surface of the amount of devastation,' he said, describing how people are living out of cars and are running out of gas.

'We need to get as many people out as we can,' he added, as he begged tourists to cancel their upcoming trips.

Verizon is waiving calling, texting and data usage fees for prepaid customers in Maui in response to the wild fires.

'As residents in Maui deal with the ongoing effects of these devastating wildfires, know that we, at Verizon, are in your corner, fully committed to supporting your recovery,' Steven Keller, market president for the Pacific said in a statement.

'We hope that our offer brings a bit of relief, helping you focus on what’s most important – staying connected to your loved ones.'

Gov. Josh Green announced on Thursday that nonessential state employees on the Island of Maui will not need to report to work from Thursday through Sunday.

Employees will be granted administrative leave during that time.

Hawaii native Bette Midler shared her condolences in a tweet Thursday.

'The beautiful island of Maui in the most beautiful state in the union, is suffering,' she tweeted.

'My family and I send our deepest and most profound sympathies to everyone who has lost anything or everything in the Maui fires.'

President Joe Biden declared Thursday that a 'major disaster exists' in Hawaii as wildfires continue to burn.

He ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area.

Hawaiian Airlines announced on Thursday it has added more flights from Maui to Honolulu to help with evacuation orders.

Seats on these planes will remain available through Friday for just $19.

A Maui resident said that he and his family had just 'minutes to escape' the wildfires and claimed that everyone he knows has lost their homes.

'Every single person that I work with, the people that I see at the bank, the grocery store, everyone I know is now homeless,' Dustin Kaleiopu told NBC's Today Show Thursday. 

'In 36 hours, our town has been burnt to ash. There's nothing left.'

Hundreds of people trying to flee spent the night at the Maui airport, after authorities asked everyone who does not need to be on the island to evacuate.

Travelers were seen sleeping on X-ray machines, carts and on the ground.

President Joe Biden announced that he has ordered 'all available assets' to help combat the wildfires.

The president said the Coast Guard and Navy are supporting response and rescue efforts, while the Marines are providing Black Hawk helicopters to fight the fires.

The Hawaii National Guard has also mobilized Chinook helicopters to help with fire suppression and search and rescue operations.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed was transported from Maui on Wednesday and taken to Oahu, a person familiar with her movements told Politico.

'The Mayor was never in danger. This wildfire is devastating to witness and our thoughts are with the people of Maui,' press secretary Parisa Safarzadeh said in a statement. 

Nearly 11,000 Maui residents did not have electricity as of Thursday morning, according to outage tracker PowerOutage.us.

That represents about 15 percent of all customers on the island.

The devastating wildfires on Hawaii's Big Island and Maui are known to have killed 36 and have claimed another casualty in the island's historic banyan tree.

The 150-year-old tree in Lahaina town was scorched as wildfires ripped through the area on Wednesday. 

Lahaina’s banyan, near the town's historic courthouse building, is known as the oldest living banyan tree in Maui. 

Former President Barack Obama tweeted about the wildfires in his home state Wednesday night.

'It's tough to see some of the images coming out of Hawai'i — a place that's so special to so many of us,' he wrote.

'Michelle and I are thinking of everyone who has lost a loved one, or whose life has been turned upside down.'

Both American Airlines and Southwest Airlines announced on Thursday they are adding more service from Maui.

An American Airlines spokeswoman told CNBC the carrier plans to operate all of its scheduled flights to and from Kahului Airport, and said it has 'added an additional flight and upgraded an aircraft today to ensure customers evacuating... are able to do so.'

Southwest also said it was adding service to Hawaii from the US mainland and more intra-island flights.

All major airlines have also waived fare differences and cancelation penalties for travelers whose trips were impacted.

Terrified relatives are pleading for information about missing loved ones as fires continue to ravage Hawaii and thousands of tourists desperately try to flee the stricken island.

Authorities confirmed that at least 36 people have been killed in the wildfires, with locals fearing that the death toll will continue to rise and warning that it is a 'mass casualty event'.

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'.

A dangerous mix of conditions combined to spark the wildfires in Hawaii, including high winds, low humidity and dry conditions.

Hurricane Dora, which passed south of the islands this week, also exacerbated a low-pressure system and increased the difference in air pressure to create 'unusually strong trade winds,' Genki Kino, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Honolulu told WTNH.

A number of organizations are accepting donations to help those affected by wildfires, including:

The Maui Mutual Aid Fund, which is accepting donations to support families, elderly residents, people with disabilities and those with limited or no insurance.

Aloha United Way, a Honolulu-based nonprofit, which has created the Maui Relief Fund to support victims of the fires.

The Salvation Army's Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division, which is accepting donations to provide meals for those displaced from their homes.

Shocking before and after pictures have laid bare the devastation inflicted by raging wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui, where at least 36 people have died.

All of the victims were in Lahaina, the 'decimated' town where some 271 buildings have been destroyed by the blaze which has ravaged 800 hectares of land, fanned by powerful winds. 

Street after street has been reduced to ashes and rubble in the seaside town - a once bustling hub home to 12,000 people which attracted tourists from all over the world.

At least 36 people have been killed in the Hawaii wildfires with the death toll expected to rise as locals continue to 'pull bodies from the water' in Maui and frantically search for missing relatives. 

Maui firefighters are desperately hunting for survivors in the scorched remains of the historic town of Lahaina, which one resident says has nearly been 'wiped off the map'.

All of the victims were in Lahaina, the 'decimated' town where some 271 buildings have been destroyed by the blaze which has ravaged 800 hectares of land, fanned by powerful winds.