Mick Fleetwood is speaking out about the catastrophic wildfires that ravaged the Hawaiian island of Maui last week.
The fires have claimed the lives of at least 93 people, making them the country’s deadliest fires in more than 100 years.
The Fleetwood Mac drummer lives in Hawaii but was out of the state when the fires began. When the news broke, Fleetwood immediately flew back to help provide aid and supplies.
While his house was not damaged by the fire, his restaurant, Fleetwood’s on Front St, in the town of Lahaina, was destroyed. Fleetwood took to social media to share the following message:
“Fleetwood’s on Front Street has been lost and while we are heartbroken, our main priority is the safety of our dear staff and team members. On behalf of myself and my family, I share my heartfelt thoughts and prayers for the people of Maui. We are committed to supporting the community and those affected by this disaster in the days and months and years to come.”
Fleetwood went on to implore people to “pay attention” to the situation in Lahaina, and warned of land developers who may seek to profit from the aftermath of the disaster.
“The thought of it becoming some form of playground with no reference to the dignity of that town, to me, would be abhorrent,” Fleetwood said.
Fleetwood’s former bandmate Stevie Nicks shared her reaction to the fires on social media, calling Lahaina the “most magical place on Earth.”
Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler’s daughter Mia Tyler and her six-year-old son Axton safely fled wildfire-ravaged Maui. She posted an update on her Instagram account explaining, “I don’t know where to start. Halfway through our vacation on Maui, we got news that a horrible fire had started an hour north of us. I don’t need to tell you what happened next. All I can say is, it was way worse than what you saw on the news and online.”
As the wildfires destroyed the historic town of Lahaina, numerous celebrities have stepped up to help. Metallica’s foundation All Within My Hands is included in the list as they donated a $200,000 grant for the Maui Strong Fund established through the Hawai’i Community Foundation (HCF). The Maui Strong Fund is providing resources that can be deployed quickly, focusing on rapid response and recovery for the disastrous wildfires still occurring on Maui.
Donate to the Hawai’i Community Foundation, Maui Strong Fund here.
