A Hawaii resident has described harrowing scenes as wind-fanned wildfires spread out of control.
The US Coastguard has had to rescue dozens of locals from the ocean after they fled into the water to escape the dangerous wildfires on the island of Maui in Hawaii.
The wind-fuelled fires have burned multiple structures, forced evacuations, and closed schools in several communities.
Mayor Richard Bissen of Maui County confirmed on Thursday morning (NZ time) six people have died in the wildfires but warns that number could rise.
Maui Resident Clint Hansen told AM on Thursday Maui has been devastated.
"I was out yesterday in Lāhainā and Kaanapali area for work and when we were out there, it was pandemonium because power lines have been knocked down, left and right," he said.
"They've been doing a great job of battling fires and fires that were the day before, but fires are all over the island, so we're spread incredibly thin. Up-country has been burning throughout the day and buildings have been burning down there."
Hansen said there is widespread damage and the wildfires are beyond what "anybody thought was possible".
"I've seen videos of people driving through a flash point where it was so hot that their car was smoking and everything was burning around them," he said.
"You could see dead people on the ground as they're going through...I am getting flooded with texts and calls to check on addresses to see if their property is still there. But I've seen footage of Lāhainā Harbour completely decimated.
"There is nothing left, and I don't know how a boat burns when it's on the water, but they're gone. Every boat in that harbour is gone."
Hawaii Governor Josh Green previously said he anticipates some deaths.
"Heroic efforts by first responders have prevented many casualties from occurring, but some loss of life is expected," he said in a statement.
"We have suffered a terrible disaster in the form of a wildfire that has spread widely as a result of hurricane-force winds in the region and underlying drought conditions.
"Maui and the Big Island both experienced significant fires. Much of Lāhainā on Maui has been destroyed and hundreds of local families have been displaced."
Green said he intends to submit a disaster declaration request to President Joe Biden once a preliminary damage assessment is made, likely in the next day or two.
"Our state appreciates the incredible outpouring of concern and prayers from the mainland. We won't forget the aloha you have already begun to share with us," Green said.
Hansen told AM he's currently trying to figure out if his friends have been affected by the wildfires but still doesn't know.
"We're a pretty tight-knit community and housing is really limited here and we're pretty much one of the most desirable places on the planet and I don't know how we're going to recover from this," he said.
Another local resident has described harrowing scenes on the island telling CNN the wildfires spread so quickly, many people didn't have time to prepare.
Claire Kent said her home in Lahaina was burned down in the fast-moving inferno.
"It happened so fast. I heard the first explosions of the gas stations exploding, and then I saw the black smoke a couple streets away, and within half an hour, we were out the door," Kent said.
"I was at a friend's house. I didn't even go home, I didn't have anything with me."
She said within an hour, the fires had moved all the way to the end of the neighbourhood, which is when she realised they weren't going to be able to go back.
"There's flames on both sides of the road -- like something out of a horror movie," Kent said.
President Biden is monitoring the wildfires in Hawaii and the White House had been in contact with state and local officials, according to White House official.
The official did not say whether the President was considering sending more federal aid to help the state.
Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii Sylvia Luke told CNN the hospitals are overrun on the island and thousands are without power.
"Our hospital system on Maui, they are overburdened with burn patients, people suffering from inhalation," she said.
"The reality is that we need to fly people out of Maui to give them burn support because Maui hospital cannot do extensive burn treatment."
Watch the full interview with Clint Hansen in the video above.
