The wildfires that rapidly swept across Maui this week led to thousands of evacuations, burned-out homes and claimed the lives of at least 36 people.
The fire started Tuesday and took the island by surprise, ripping through portions of the town of Lahaina, a historic former capital that dates back to the 1700s and has long been a favourite destination for tourists.
It was the latest in a series of extreme weather events around the globe this summer, including the record setting wildfires in Canada.
Experts say climate change is increasing the likelihood of such events. Here’s a closer look at the factors that led to the
