Montreal-area man recounts his family's escape from Maui wildfires
CTV
The Carpinteyro family from Montreal's South Shore was visiting Hawaii for the fourth time in late June. But on their last day, they found themselves in the middle of the town of Lahaina, a resort beach-front vacation spot, as it went up in flames on Aug. 8.
The Carpinteyro family from Montreal's South Shore was visiting Hawaii for the fourth time in late June.
The island of Maui was their final stop when it was hit back-to-back by a tropical storm and wildfires. They didn't worry much at first.
But on their last day, they found themselves in the middle of the town of Lahaina, a resort beach-front vacation spot, as it went up in flames on Aug. 8.
There was a power failure, and emergency sirens were not functioning.
"It was three o'clock and there was big smoke, a lot of closed streets, lots of police, and we could see something big was going on", said Marco Carpinteyro, the director of the Maison de la famille LeMoyne, which assists underprivileged families.
Strangely enough, he says, no one seemed to be too worried at least in mid-afternoon. The fire was destroying one city block. But it was limited in scope.
"It wasn't panic, more curiosity, and getting pictures, getting close to the fire," said Carpinteyro, who was travelling with his wife, their two teenage children, and one of their friends.
