Con Fire Deploys Asst. Chief To Maui On FEMA Search, Rescue Mission

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District has deployed Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Peter to Maui, Hawaii, on an urban search-and-rescue mission led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Peter departed early Friday from Oakland, taking with him decades of experience in FEMA urban search-and-rescue team operations. Wildfires have killed at least 55 people and turned large swaths of the centuries-old town of Lahaina, Maui into a hellscape of ashen rubble.

The blaze is the deadliest U.S. wildfire since the 2018 Camp Fire in California, which killed at least 85 people and laid waste to the town of Paradise. Cadaver-sniffing dogs were brought in Friday to assist in the search for the remains of people killed by the inferno, said Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen Jr.

Fueled by a dry summer and strong winds from a passing hurricane, at least three wildfires erupted on Maui this week, racing through parched brush covering the island. The most serious one swept into Lahaina on Tuesday and left it a grid of gray rubble wedged between the blue ocean and lush green slopes. Skeletal remains of buildings bowed under roofs that pancaked in the blaze. Palm trees were torched, boats in the harbor were scorched and the stench of burning lingered.

Chief Peter's deployment to Maui underscores ConFire‘s commitment to providing vital assistance in times of crisis, the organization said in a statement Friday afternoon.

Peter is a member of a FEMA incident support team and has responded to other major disasters across the nation. His expertise encompasses a diverse range of roles from search-and-rescue operations to logistics, planning and recovery.

The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District upholds a strong representation within FEMA's urban search-and-rescue incident support teams. The specialized units are comprised of members who have had rigorous training and extensive hands-on involvement in managing natural disasters across the country.

"Our ongoing collaboration with FEMA exemplifies our dedication to enhancing emergency response capabilities and promoting safety, not only within our local community but also on a broader scale," Con Fire said. "We remain steadfast in our resolve to contribute to the well-being of those affected by unforeseen events."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.