Maui wildfire death toll rises to 101 with identification of final victim
Paul Kasprzycki, 76, is identified as the 101st victim in Hawaii’s deadliest Lahaina wildfire
The deadly wildfire that ravaged Lahaina, Hawaii, in August 2023 has claimed its 101st victim, Maui police confirmed Tuesday.
A 76-year-old Lahaina resident called Paul Kasprzycki was identified as the latest casualty of the deadliest U.S. wildfire in over a century. His remains were found off a side street in an industrial area and identified using X-ray comparisons.
Maui’s new cold case unit, which was formed in the aftermath of the blaze, was instrumental in this identification, leaving two people still missing from the August 8th disaster. The victims of this catastrophic event ranged from ages 7 to 97, with the majority being over 60 years old.
Kasprzycki was known for his skill as a carpenter and woodworker and led a life marked by independence and creativity. His friend since eighth grade recalled Kasprzycki’s journey from California to Hawaii in the 1970s during a boat race, after which he chose to stay in Hawaii.
Kasprzycki was a University of Southern California alumnus with a background in ancient history, Latin, and philosophy. He set up a small retail shop in Lahaina that also served as his home.
His brother Jan Kasprzycki shared Paul had refused to leave Lahaina during the fire, choosing to stay with his five cats.
The family, which plans to scatter his ashes in Olinda, was relieved to have closure on his whereabouts finally.
Maui police’s after-action report detailed the recovery process, with 42 victims found inside buildings, 39 outdoors, 15 in vehicles, one in the ocean and three in hospitals from fire-related injuries.
Forensic experts, using DNA testing and cadaver dogs, faced the daunting task of identifying remains, some as small as a quarter.
This testing led to a revision of the death toll from 115 to at least 97, with slight increases as more remains were found or victims succumbed to their injuries.
Source: Newsroom
