21 August 2023 , 11:03
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Amid the rumbles the catastrophic fire in Hawaii left behind, one house remained nearly intact.
Mystery surrounds a seaside home in Lahaina on Maui that remained untouched by the destructive fires that ravaged the area last week. The red-roofed house with a white façade, somehow survived the destruction and stands pristine in pictures showing the otherwise charred remains of the historic city.
Owners Dora Atwater Millikin and Dudley Long Millikin III had carried out a refurbishment to the $4million (£3.13 million) property recently, which is thought to have contributed to it being protected by the deadly flames. However, according to the owners, the works were not done with fireproofing in mind.
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The red-roofed house that survived the fires surrounded by destroyed homes and buildings (AFP via Getty Images)Ms Atwater Millikin told LA Times: "It’s a 100% wood house so it’s not like we fireproofed it or anything." The refurbishment works included a replacement of the asphalt roof with a heavy-gauge metal one. The couple had also reduced foliage around the house to minimise the risk of termites. “We love old buildings, so we just wanted to honour the building,” she added. “And we didn’t change the building in any way — we just restored it.”
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“When this was all happening, there were pieces of wood — 6, 12 inches long — that were on fire and just almost floating through the air with the wind and everything,” Ms Millikin said. “They would hit people’s roofs, and if it was an asphalt roof, it would catch on fire. And otherwise, they would fall off the roof and then ignite the foliage around the house.”
Destroyed homes and buildings burned to the ground in Lahaina (AFP via Getty Images)These changes were not intended for fireproofing but ultimately saved the house from destruction. Roofs are crucial in a home's susceptibility to fire, as they provide a surface for embers to land. The Millikins were away in Massachusetts during the fire, and their house, often referred to as a "miracle house," survived, becoming a symbol of hope amidst the tragedy.
Meanwhile, Hawaii Governor Josh Green addressed the devastating wildfires in Maui during a live-streamed speech Friday and spoke of the rebuilding of Lahaina. "Lahaina will rise again," he said, amid concerns from local residents that the governor is rushing the rebuilding process and not allowing sufficient time for grieving.
Charred Banyan court in Lahaina, Hawaii (Satellite image ©2023 Maxar Tech)The blaze killed over 100 people and ravaged the historic town of Lahaina, making it the deadliest US wildfire in more than a century.“ More than 1,000 are unaccounted for, about 1,050. It will take several weeks still," Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said Sunday on the CBS News show “Face the Nation." Green added that “an army of search and rescue teams” with 41 dogs have covered 85% of the impacted area.