Las Vegas Comic Survives Hawaiian Deadly Wildfire — Report

Posted on: August 11, 2023, 03:33h. 

Last updated on: August 11, 2023, 03:33h.

A Las Vegas based performer visiting Maui was able to escape to Honolulu this week after a wildfire struck the western portion of the devasted Hawaiian island.

Comedian/hypnotist Don Barnhart was on the island paradise for a show when the deadly fire broke out and quickly spread.

His comedy performance planned for Sunday at the Da Playground Maui — in Wailuku was canceled.

Electricity, as well as cell phone and internet service went out for days. Eventually, he and his wife made it to safety.

It’s just starting to hit us, that oh my God,” he told Las Vegas TV station KLAS. “We were two miles away from where the fire was.”

At that impacted location, people jumped into a harbor to protect themselves from the fast-moving flames.

Faced Death

We looked at each other and went ‘okay,’” Barnhart added. “If this is our time, we’ve been blessed with a wonderful life, and we’ll die together.”

Barnhart previously expected to open a comedy club on Maui. Now, those plans ended. The site was destroyed by the wildfire.

Often, he performs at the Delirious Comedy Club in Las Vegas. He is also scheduled to perform on Norwegian Cruise Line ships later this year. He looks forward to the future.

“Grateful we’re alive and counting our blessings,” he tweeted late this week.

53 Perish

As of Friday morning, 53 people in Hawaii had perished as a result of the wildfire, CNN reported.

“We will continue to see loss of life,” Hawaii Gov. Josh Green predicted on Thursday.

The town of Lahaina was particularly hard hit.

“Lahaina, with a few rare exceptions, has been burned down,” Green said after visiting the devastated community. “Without a doubt, it feels like a bomb was dropped on Lahaina.”

Some 11,000 people on Maui remained without power as of Thursday night. Many were forced to move to shelters or find other temporary housing.

The fire began on Tuesday. Dry conditions and strong winds caused the blaze to spread.

The wildfire surprised island residents. An emergency siren system did not activate, the Associated Press reported.

Firefighters have made progress in battling the blaze. It was 80% contained as of early Friday.

Nevada residents and businesses are donating to charities to help impacted residents of Hawaii. The two states have a close relationship, with travel between Nevada and Hawaii being very popular.

Red Cross Responds

On Friday, Barb Kramer, a disaster relief volunteer of the American Red Cross of Northern Nevada, is scheduled to leave for Hawaii, according to Reno, Nev. TV station KRNV.

She will remain in Maui for at least three weeks. This is her latest disaster relief assignment.

She has used her training and experience to help in disasters some 20 times over a decade.

Grateful we’re alive and counting our blessings. https://t.co/0po0QaeZpv

— Don Barnhart (@donbarnhart) August 11, 2023

Source: casino.org