Ignored warnings, hubris, slow response fueled America's deadliest wildfire in a century

A raging fire burning directly into densely populated areas. A historic city built between the ocean and a volcano with limited escape routes. Gale-force winds that left firefighters on the defensive.

In the wake of the deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century, officials in Hawaii have, at times, insisted that little could have been done to avoid the tragedy that obliterated a historic West Maui town and killed scores of residents.

"The largest force at play ... were 80-mph winds," Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said last week. "We have doubts that much could have been done with a fiery, fast-moving fire like that."

Yet there is plenty of evidence that government officials should have been aware of the danger to Lahaina, home to generations of Hawaiian families and once home of the Hawaiian king.