President Joe Biden has said he does not want to “get in the way” of rescue work after the Hawaii wildfires following criticism of his response to the disaster.
Mr Biden said he and first lady Jill Biden “are going to travel to Hawaii as soon as we can”.
“I don’t want to get in the way,” he said, adding that recovery work being carried about by emergency responders and search and rescue teams is “painstaking work” that “takes time.”
Hawaii officials are working to identify the 106 people killed in Maui wildfires. Governor Josh Green confirmed the updated death toll on Tuesday, up from 99 earlier, after the last official update indicated that 25 per cent of the search area had been covered.
The toll is expected to continue to rise for days as hundreds of people remain missing with Mr Green predicting “10 to 20” more bodies found each day.
Meanwhile, as residents of hard-hit Lahaina return home to survey the devastation, officials have issued dire warnings about contamination that could pose health risks for months to come.
Wildfire roars through Hawaii’s historic Lahaina
Maui wildfire victim died while trying to shield friend’s golden retriever
As wildfires ravaged the Maui community of Lahaina, one of the victims died protecting his friend’s golden retriever.
In what officials have dubbed the deadliest US blaze in a century, 68-year-old Franklin Trejos had attempted to shield Sam, the golden retriever, from the deadly flames. The dog belonged to retired fire captain Geoff Bogar and his wife Shannon Weber-Bogar, Trejos’ friends of nearly 35 years.
Mr Bogar told the Associated Press that he and Trejos had decided to stay behind in an effort to save Mr Bogar’s house as the fires grew on 7 August. Although Mr Bogar says that they both eventually decided to flee the following afternoon, only the retired captain made it back.
Authorities discovered Trejos’ bones in the backseat of his car lying on top of the remains of Mr Bogar’s three-year-old golden retriever. He reportedly died trying to protect the young dog.
Hawaii national guard activates hundreds of troops for rescue efforts
The Hawaii National Guard has activated about 258 Army National Guard and Air National Guard personnel to help respond to the fires.
Guard members will offer support to the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency and local law enforcement agencies and help with command and control efforts, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said on Tuesday.
The US Army Corps of Engineers is helping with debris removal and temporary power. The Corps has deployed 27 personnel — active duty and civilians — and 41 contractor personnel.
The US Coast Guard has shifted its focus to minimising maritime environmental impacts but is still ready to help individuals in the water.
Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team Honolulu and the Coast Guard National Strike Force have established a safety zone extending one nautical mile seaward from the shoreline.
The have also deployed pollution response teams and equipment, including a 100-foot boom at the mouth of Blaina Harbour to contain any potentially hazardous contaminants and material. There are about 140 Coast Guard members aiding the response effort.
Ms Singh said she doesn’t know how many active-duty troops have responded, but said that active-duty forces will be part of the ongoing effort.
Biden administration goes into defence mode
The Biden administration doubled down in their defence of President Joe Biden regarding his response to the Hawaii wildfires.
While aboard Air Force One on Tuesday, deputy press secretary Olivia Dalton began a press gaggle by giving remarks about Mr Biden’s efforts to send aid and assist those in Hawaii affected by the wildfires.
Ms Dalton listed all the federal resources the Biden administration has given to Hawaii including more than 500 federal personnel which includes FEMA personnel to assist in search and recovery efforts.
“I would also just like to add because I know many of you have asked that we’re currently having active conversations about when a visit to Hawaii might be possible,” Ms Dalton said.