Lahaina fire report

Warnings largely unheeded

While the total number of dead has not yet been determined,  the Lahaina fire in Maui on Tuesday, August 8, 2023 is on record as the worst wildfire in Hawaii history. 

The fire swept through the coastal town with such speed that it caught authorities by surprise, so that even emergency sirens were not activated. Numerous distressed residents, facing the rapid onset of the fire, found themselves unable to escape via the congested sole highway. As a result, some opted to use boats or even swim to safety, assuming they could manage to escape the danger at all.

 

Source: NBC News

In 2014, a nonprofit organization called the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization collaborated with government entities to create a wildfire-protection strategy for the region surrounding Lahaina. The plan highlighted the vulnerability of Lahaina in Maui to fires due to its proximity to dry grasslands, steep landscape, and frequent winds.

The comprehensive plan, developed in partnership with both Maui and state authorities, outlined numerous actions required to safeguard the Lahaina area from wildfires. These actions encompassed activities like reducing vegetation near populated zones, enhancing the ability to respond to wildfires, and collaborating with landowners and utility companies to minimize fire risk on their properties.

Several suggestions from the 2014 plan, which resulted from a series of community meetings, were put into practice. These included efforts to thin out brush and educate landowners about fire prevention. However, certain recommendations, such as strengthening emergency-response capabilities, encountered obstacles due to limited funding, logistical challenges in rugged terrain, and conflicting priorities. Elizabeth Pickett, the main author of the report and co-executive director of the wildfire nonprofit, noted that while progress had been made, some aspects of the plan remained unfulfilled. 

Officials were surprised by the strength of Hurricane Dora, which traversed Hawaii in recent days, generating winds reaching up to 60 miles per hour. These winds propelled the fire towards Lahaina at a pace that outstripped the ability of both emergency personnel and residents to manage and control.

The potential threat of wildfires caused by hurricanes in Hawaii was detailed in a 2020 study conducted by scholars from the University of Hawaii and the East-West Center. This study linked a fire outbreak in 2018 on both Maui and Oahu to the windy conditions brought by Hurricane Lane.

In a similar manner to Hurricane Dora, Hurricane Lane moved past the islands in a southern trajectory. However, Hurricane Lane resulted in the ignition of four fires—three in West Maui and one on Oahu—scorching approximately 3,000 acres of land.

In the last ten years, an average of 20,000 acres have experienced wildfires each year in Hawaii, surpassing the rate of a hundred years ago by more than four times, as reported by the Pacific Fire Exchange, a nonprofit organization focused on fire safety.

A significant factor behind this trend has been the rapid growth of non-native grasses and shrubs, as highlighted by the aforementioned group.

Source: Frosch,, Dan & Jim Carlton. (2023, August 12). Hawaii Officials Were Warned Years Ago That Maui’s Lahaina Faced High Wildfire Risk. Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/hawaii-maui-fire-risks-plans-government-e883f3a3?mod=itp_wsj&mod=djemITP_h