Survivors of Hawaii fires say they didn't hear warning sirens prior to blaze sweeping through island

Many residents in Maui, Hawaii, claim that the emergency system on the island did not alert them as wildfires approached their homes. 

As of now, there has been no indication that any warning sirens were triggered to warn residents of oncoming fires, official records have confirmed, according to the Associated Press. 

Officials did send out alerts to mobile phones, televisions and radio stations, but widespread power outages could have negatively affected their reach. 

At least 55 people have been killed in the devastating wildfires in Hawaii that continue to sweep across the island. Some people were rescued by the National Guard after jumping into the ocean to escape the blaze. 

The historic Lahaina Town, a one-time capital of the former kingdom that has less than 13,000 residents, was hit particularly hard. Locals fear that the fire may have consumed much of the town, AP reported.

“Without a doubt, it feels like a bomb was dropped on Lahaina,” Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said Thursday. 

This incident is the state's deadliest natural disaster since a 1960 tsunami that killed 61 Hawaiians.