House Escaping Flames at Maui Island Wildfire Site
Real-Life 'Concrete Utopia'
As the death toll from the wildfire disaster on Maui Island, Hawaii, in the United States surpasses 100, a house that miraculously escaped the flames has attracted attention.
On the 17th (local time), the British Daily Mail and others introduced a house that was the only one to remain intact in a West Maui residential area devastated by the wildfire.
According to reports, the massive wildfire that broke out on the 8th destroyed 2,200 buildings, causing enormous damage. Most buildings around the Maui area were lost. However, a two-story detached house with a distinctive red roof alone maintained its intact form amid the fire. The house’s garden also remained relatively undamaged.
Local netizens responded on social media (SNS) with comments such as "The 'Red House' that survived the Hawaii wildfire."
On the 10th (local time), the western coastal town of Lahaina on Maui Island, Hawaii, has turned to ashes. [Image source=Yonhap News]
However, the specific reason why the house remained intact in the fire has not yet been revealed. Local media speculate that the construction method played an important role.
The homeowner, Patti Tamura (67), said in an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, "My grandfather built the house with cement due to Hawaii’s insect problems," adding, "I am confident that thanks to my grandfather’s knowledge and construction skills, the house was able to remain intact." It is reported that Tamura’s grandfather designed the house after retiring from work in the 1950s.
She recalled, "It probably looked similar to other houses, but because the walls were thick, you had to go outside to hear the sound of the sea." As a child, Tamura thought the thick concrete walls did not fit among the wooden buildings, but thanks to her grandfather’s foresight, the house suffered little damage.
The wildfire that broke out on the 8th has so far resulted in 111 confirmed deaths according to local authorities. However, due to difficulties in identifying victims, fewer than 10 of these have been positively identified. The number of injured from the wildfire has also exceeded 100. Maui Memorial Medical Center has reported treating 148 people so far.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green said, "More than 1,000 residents are still missing," raising concerns that the death toll could increase two to three times from the current number.
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