NBC's Survival Mode Episode 2: Maui Wildfires - Revisiting harrowing details of Hawaii's deadliest wildfire 

The NBC's Survival Mode episode 2, which premiered on July 14, 2025, revisits the harrowing details of Hawaii's deadliest “Maui Wildfires.” The catastrophe devastated Lahaina and forced terrified residents and tourists to flee towards the ocean.

In the Survival Mode episode, survivors recount the harrowing moment flames overtook Lahaina, capturing the panic, perseverance, and split-second decisions they faced:

"The fire was taking off so fast, like within 10 minutes, it just seemed like every house on both sides of the street was all on fire," admitted one of the survivors in the trailer of the NBC docu-series.

Keep reading to know the harrowing details of the incident that the docuseries explores.

Here are the harrowing details of Hawaii's deadliest wildfire as shown in Survival Mode Episode 2: Maui Wildfires

The trailer of the NBC docu-series, Survival Mode, opens with aerial shots of the wildfire affecting a large part of the region and still blazing. The survivors recall how the streets and houses were engulfed in he fire, and the gripping visuals showcase people taking refuge in the ocean:

"I decided to go and check out the neighbourhood. I hop in my truck, get up to the first road, which is less than 30 seconds, make a right, and then everything is on fire. People were running out of their houses, which were already on fire, and their kids, people were screaming. They didn't know where to go; they were just fleeing for their lives."

The survivor asserted that it was a "survival mode" since the beginning, and his far-sightedness only kept him safe:

"We knew that our house was going to be in the line of fire, and from the very beginning, it was survival mode."

The show emphasises first‑hand narratives, archival footage, and maps to illustrate the real-time progression of the disaster — no dramatisation, just survivor testimonies. This makes the overall feel of the docu series intimate, adding to the harrowing visuals.

Here are key facts about the Maui wildfires, particularly the Lahaina fire, as shown in Survival Mode

The Maui Wildfire happened on August 8, 2023, primarily at the historic town of Lahaina. As per AP News, at least 101 people were considered dead, making it one of the deadliest wildfires in the US in over a century. How the fire occurred is still under investigation, but it is speculated to be caused by a combination of downed power lines, dry vegetation, and the strong winds caused by Hurricane Dora, which passed south of Hawaii. This caused the fire to emerge and spread due to the wind speeds.

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Lahaina town was almost destroyed, with 2,200 structures damaged or destroyed, of which 86% of destroyed buildings were residential. Over 2000 acres were burned with damage estimated at over $5.5 billion.

Many residents also pointed out that there were no security alarms and criticised the electrical department of Hawaii. As a result, thousands were displaced — many lived in hotels and shelters for months. Lawsuits were filed against Hawaiian Electric for not shutting off power preemptively. The culturally rich land was destroyed and raised debate about the preparedness against such unforeseen incidents.

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