Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints evacuated during Hawaii wildfires
Aug 10, 2023, 8:00 PM
A wildfire burns in Kihei, Hawaii late Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023. Thousands of residents raced to escape homes on Maui as blazes swept across the island (Ty O'Neil, Associated Press)
(Ty O'Neil, Associated Press)
SALT LAKE CITY — The state of Hawaii has been devasted by wildfires in recent days. And members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been directly impacted, according to a church official.
Elder Mark A. Bragg, Area Authority Seventy and President of the Church’s North America West Area, told The Church News that all missionaries are safe and accounted for on the island of Maui. But Elder Bragg also said that more than 500 church members have been evacuated.
Additionally, Elder Bragg said meetinghouses on the island of Maui are being used as shelters for those individuals who have been evacuated.
Once the fires are extinguished, Elder Bragg said there will be a great need for assistance in cleaning up. He said church members in the area will be ready to get to work.
As of Thursday afternoon, CNN reports that 53 people have died as a result of the wildfires.
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green told CNN that roughly 1,700 buildings have been destroyed.
Bonneville International Corporation, the company that owns KSL NewsRadio, is a subsidiary of Deseret Management Corporation, which is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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