A woman who ran through burning fields to escape the Lahaina wildfire in Hawaii has died after spending more than seven weeks in a hospital burn unit.
Laurie Allen died Friday at Straub Medical Center in Honolulu GOFUNDME page for her and her husband, Perry Allen.
Laurie slipped away calmly. Her heart is tired, but she is ready,” her sister-in-law, Penny Allen Hood, wrote on the website.
Ellen is survived by her husband, two brothers, a sister and other relatives.
Allen is one of them At least 98 people On August 8, a fire broke out in historic Lahaina on the west coast of Maui, resulting in casualties. The fire, the deadliest in the United States in more than a century, destroyed 2,200 structures, mostly homes.
The fire appears to have been caused by strong winds hawaii power lines Falling and igniting dry brush and grass. After control was declared, the fire raged and swept through the town.
Artist Perry Allen lost his life’s work when his home burned down, Hood said. He was working 15 miles (24 kilometers) away when the fire broke out.
Laurie Allen, a physical therapist administrative assistant who works from home, was at home when the fire broke out. She escapes in a car with the others, but a fallen burning tree blocks their path.
Allen got out of his car and fled 100 yards (91 meters) across a burning patch of grass. A police officer and firefighter met her and took her to an emergency shelter.
In the hospital, Allen endured infections and a series of surgeries, including skin grafts, and fell in and out of consciousness. She had trouble communicating, but at one point she was able to wiggle her toes when someone asked her, which gave her hope.
However, her prognosis has worsened in recent days, and Hood tweeted Thursday that “the battle to repair and rebuild Laurie’s earthly body” will soon be over. Allen was taken off life support on Friday.
“This ordeal touched countless lives. For me, I realized how many people shared Laurie’s concerns—her childhood, her family, coworkers, church friends, and those at the PT clinic where she worked. customers,” Hood wrote on Friday. “It’s a reminder that we never know how much of an impression our smile or even a simple hello can make on someone else.”
Lahaina residents whose homes were burned down Start returning Went to the destroyed town last week.Authorities have urged them not to sift through ashes for items amid concerns it could kick up dust Contains asbestoslead, arsenic or other toxins.
Returnees received water, shade, washing stations, portable toilets, medical and mental health care, and transportation assistance. Nonprofit organizations are also providing personal protective equipment, including masks and coveralls.
Nearly 8,000 displaced residents are staying in hotels and other accommodations around Maui. Economists warn that without zoning and other changes housing costs In already expensive Lahaina, the cost of rebuilding may be prohibitive for many.
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