 Warning sirens on the island of Maui were silent as a terrifying fires tore through communities, Hawaii's emergency management agency confirmed. The fires killed at least 96 people last week, making the disaster the deadliest of its kind in US history. The number of fatalities is expected to rise as authorities continue to search for and identify victims. Hawaii boasts what it describes as the largest system of outdoor public safety warning sirens in the world, that should sound in cases of danger. Those who survived the fire have since questioned why none of the 80 sirens placed around the island were activated. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency's spokesman, Adam Weintraub, has confirmed that the sirens were not sounded, reports the New York Times. He added that if they had been activated they would not have been a sign to evacuate but to seek more information. One of the emergency sirens placed around Hawaii that were not sounded last week (Picture: Hawaii Emergency Management Agency) Mr Weintraub said other alert systems were activated, such as text messages and broadcasts on radio and TV stations, but with much of the island's power out on Tuesday many residents didn't get these warnings. He said the agency would be cooperating with the state attorney's general review of the response to the fires. One resident, Lisa Panis, told NBCNews: 'They didn't give us no warning. No nothing. No siren, no alarms, no nothing.' Meanwhile, Hawaii governor Josh Green called the blaze a 'fire hurricane', with winds of 80mph and temperatures reaching an incredible '1,000 degrees'. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Mr Green told MSNBC on Sunday that the weather front, pushed on by Hurricane Dora, created fire cyclones that were able to go through buildings. He called the area a war zone, adding: 'Every){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
Warning sirens on the island of Maui were silent as a terrifying fires tore through communities, Hawaii’s emergency management agency confirmed.
The fires killed at least 96 people last week, making the disaster the deadliest of its kind in US history.
The number of fatalities is expected to rise as authorities continue to search for and identify victims.
Hawaii boasts what it describes as the largest system of outdoor public safety warning sirens in the world, that should sound in cases of danger.