Hawaii Fire: How Pinky's Famous Truck Saved Lives in Lahaina

 In the last few days, there was a lot of destruction due to the wildfires in the Hawaiian Islands. The foreign media have published various sad stories about the missing people who died due to this calamity.

Lynette "Pinky" Iverson has lived in Lahaina, Hawaii for many years. Locals know her because of her pickup truck, which she often travels alone, and her pet named Tiny.

There was talk of her fleeing the city as the wildfires raged Tuesday with "many" people in the back of that truck.

"I got into my truck and the tires were already on fire," she told BBC News from the emergency shelter at the War Memorial Stadium, explaining how her ordeal began.

"I tried to save many people, but I couldn't save some," she added.

As of Friday, the confirmed death toll had reached 67, making it officially the deadliest natural disaster in Hawaii's history.

She said the fire grew bigger when she sprayed water on her house in hopes of stopping the embers from igniting.

"One woman didn't want to come out. Another man screamed for help," she said of the disturbing scene.

She was only able to grab her car keys and Tiny before fleeing.

While talking, I noticed something crawling on the bed just inches away from her dog. Not knowing what it was, I used my notebook and dropped it..

There was a snake, and it was thought that the bite would kill Tiny because the animal was poisonous.

Mrs. Iverson spoke with concern about this predicament. She was disappointed with the cleanliness of the sheets provided at the accommodation.

She said she hoped her brother in Nevada would know she was safe by calling the BBC because she didn't have a phone.

Ms. Iverson lived in her famous truck for six years before finally entering a home for the disabled and elderly in Lahaina.

At 70, she hopes to find a place to live again.

Steve Stroud, a former commercial diver who has lived in Lahaina for 10 years, says he worries about the neighbors he couldn't save when he ran for his life.

He also says that there was a disabled man in his apartment complex and he needed help from several people to escape.

But at the time there was no time to assemble a team to help, so "I had to leave him behind," he recalls.

He and his neighbor survived by using their bicycles. In their 60s, they had to cycle through flames that were sometimes as high as 10 feet (3 meters).

Wildfires started Tuesday night in the historic town of Lahaina, Hawaii's Maui Island and the Big Island. Hurricanes and dry weather fueled the fires and spread them rapidly.

Thousands have been left homeless by the disaster, and there are currently six shelters operating on Maui.