The man expressed disbelief in the official reasoning from Lahaina's mayor, Richard Bissen, for not using the sirens.

MAUI FIRE:

"If they would have lit up those sirens, many many many lives would have been saved".

Full interview with Lahaina resident (@illya1313) to come at: https://t.co/v1EvqUvKIU. pic.twitter.com/pppgij1ClD

— Lincoln Jay (@lincolnmjay) August 18, 2023

"THIS IS BULLSHIT, we are not stupid"

Local questions why the emergency sirens didn't go off the day of the fire. The reason given by the mayor was that they were afraid that people will accidentally run towards the fire.

For more: https://t.co/3vGi0Ol5l6 pic.twitter.com/T7iWwtFbzU

— Alexandra Lavoie (@ThevoiceAlexa) August 18, 2023

The controversy has claimed the job of Maui's head of emergency management, Herman Andaya, who cited health concerns as the reason for his resignation amid the crisis.

Maui’s Head of Emergency Management has no regrets over not activating sirens during the deadly wildfire, opting instead for an emergency text:

“We would have not saved those people”.

What do you think?https://t.co/N6V4hasxFr pic.twitter.com/nXGjGSir6g

— Rebel News (@RebelNewsOnline) August 17, 2023

According to the man interviewed by Rebel News, there was utter chaos as the fire breached the town of 13,000 residents.

MAUI FIRE: Local from Lahaina (@illya1313) describes the intense atmosphere as he became aware of the fire. Birds flying into buildings. He became aware of the fire on his own, after seeing the sky turn black.

Full interview to come at https://t.co/v1EvqUvKIU pic.twitter.com/UGaLIh1BV8

— Lincoln Jay (@lincolnmjay) August 18, 2023

"This was handled in the most inappropriate and irresponsible way. It almost seems like they wanted us to burn."

"This was handled in the most inappropriate and irresponsible way. It almost seems like they wanted us to burn".

Citizen of Lahaina shares his experience about the wildfire tragedy that burned down his girlfriends entire apartment.

For more: https://t.co/3vGi0Ol5l6 pic.twitter.com/1ZjzFgzO93

— Alexandra Lavoie (@ThevoiceAlexa) August 18, 2023

"What about all the money they send to Ukraine right now? They need to take care of their own."

MAUI FIRE "What about all the money they send to Ukraine right now, they need to take care of their own".

Full interview with a Local from Lahaina (@illya1313) to come at https://t.co/3vGi0Ol5l6 pic.twitter.com/SJ03RCTMlI

— Alexandra Lavoie (@ThevoiceAlexa) August 18, 2023

Rebel News CEO has joined reporters Alexa Lavoie and Lincoln Jay in Lahaina with a Starlink internet system. Local internet and phone service has been intermittent and sometimes non-existent.

Just landed in Maui with my Starlink satellite dish. Will deliver it to Lahaina for the use of our journalists @ThevoiceAlexa & @lincolnmjay as well as other people nearby. We’re here to do citizen journalism. See all of our work at https://t.co/OQXlFOqMy7 pic.twitter.com/ilwFKzNgbj

— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) August 18, 2023

Donations to the Red Cross can be made here.

Visit www.TheTruthAboutMaui.com to support Rebel News' independent on-the-ground journalism in Lahaina.