Efforts underway to help families of fireworks patients getting treatment in Arizona
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - While six survivors of the Aliamanu fireworks explosion receive treatment in Arizona, some of their loved ones also made the trip to help in their recovery.
Efforts are underway to help support these families during the difficult time away from home.
Hawaii News Now has learned there are at least 14 family members from Hawaii currently staying in Phoenix. We are told they’re being put up in three hotels, and some of them are preparing for long-term stays.
“(The patients) are all going to be there for at least three months, if not six or seven on the high side I would imagine, based on the percentage of the burn,” said Rex Albright with the Arizona Burn Foundation.
The foundation offers emotional and financial support to families whose loved ones are being treated at the burn center.
Donations have allowed them to provide food, hotel, and social services to the 14 family members.
They are now preparing for long-term assistance.
“Just lodging alone is going to be over $5,000 per family, so multiply by six families, that’s $30,000 with food, so you’re looking at 50-, 60-thousand dollar outlay of cash for the next several months,” explained Albright.
There’s also been community efforts online by former Hawaii residents who now live in Arizona, seeing how they can help out.
“We did have one Hawaiian family that has a home who does rent out out Airbnb say they are willing to donate their home which is great,” said Albright.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE
- 4 victims killed in Aliamanu fireworks explosion identified
- Loved ones mourn child, family killed in Aliamanu fireworks tragedy
- Health care experts explain ‘unprecedented’ effort to treat, transport multiple burn patients
- Fireworks explosion patients undergo multiple surgeries in Arizona burn center
- Loved ones of victims injured in fireworks explosion seek help in long roads to recovery
- 6 fireworks explosion survivors transported to mainland for further treatment
- A ‘miracle’: Man who survived the New Year’s fireworks explosion returns to the neighborhood
- Memorial grows for fireworks blast victims as state social workers help neighborhood
- Honolulu medical examiner identifies 2 killed in illegal fireworks explosion
- Neighbor describes terrifying moments of fatal fireworks blast
- Cleanup begins as Aliamanu neighborhood struggles with deadly fireworks blast
- ‘Enough is enough’: Hawaii leaders pledge change after deadly illegal fireworks explosion
- 3 dead, dozens injured in massive illegal fireworks explosion in Aliamanu
Copyright 2025 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
