(KRQE) — As clean-up begins from devastating wildfires in Hawaii, an Albuquerque native, who spent years in Lahaina, is heading back to her former home to help with some of the basics.
It’s become one of the deadliest and most destructive wildfires in U.S. history, breaking out in Maui on August 8.
One of the places seeing the most damage is Lahaina, which is a small historic town west of Maui.
Albuquerque native Jess Orr lived in Lahaina from 2019 until last year. The house she lived in is now destroyed. As soon as word got out, Orr said she knew she needed to be there.
“Knowing all of my coworkers and people that I led have lost so much in their homes and the areas around it, it’s been honestly heartbreaking,” said Orr.
She organized her own trip to Maui with donations in tow, ready to help.
“I asked for donations, and people in Albuquerque rallied around that, and …