When the wildfires trapped Shaun “Buge” Saribay, he picked up a garden hose and promised his family: Don’t worry. Dad’s going to come home.
LAHAINA, Hawaii — For long stretches of that long night, Shaun “Buge” Saribay thought his story would end in tragedy.
for open space. They chose the yard and parking lot of Lahaina United Methodist Church, about a mile away from their homes. Saribay had recently worked on the building’s renovation, and he remembered where the water spigots were.The crew huddled, and Saribay played quarterback. Chain-smoking USA Menthol Lights, he barked directions. They decided to grab as many hoses as they could and soak the ground.
They sprayed the dry, dead grass beneath their feet and the wood-frame homes around them. Maybe, if they flooded their patch, it wouldn’t catch.Flames were only part of the problem. Wind whipped through at 80 miles per hour, blowing kickball-sized embers into their area.rushed to put them out before they spread. The hoses didn’t always reach. So they filled buckets and dashed across theAt some point, an ember crashed into the church roof, and it caught fire.
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