Inside the Deadly Maui Inferno, Hour by Hour

After wildfires devastated the Hawaiian town of Lahaina in August 2023, killing at least 99 people, The New York Times dispatched a team of journalists to uncover how it became the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century. The result, “Inside the Deadly Maui Inferno, Hour by Hour,” is a tour de force of investigative reporting and innovative storytelling. More than 400 videos shot by residents and tourists are placed with pixel-perfect precision on a photorealistic 3-D map of the town, underpinning a gripping narrative that takes us from the moment sparks started the blaze through the bone-chilling stories of survivors and victims. Interviews with residents, officials, and experts, combined with detailed analysis of traffic patterns and weather data, helped The Times uncover the myriad failures that resulted in the destruction and loss of life. From a weather forecast that understated the risk, to firefighters leaving the scene of a morning fire that quickly flared back up, to critical escape routes that were blocked for hours, The Times‘ report lays out in detail the events of the day, providing readers with the most comprehensive account of what went so wrong in Lahaina. For its powerful investigation into the deadly Maui fire, and its stunning presentation of the team’s reporting, “Inside the Deadly Maui Inferno, Hour by Hour” wins a Peabody.