Hawaii Officials Underestimated Deadly Threat of Wildfires, CNN Review Finds
HONOLULU – A CNN review of state and local emergency planning documents has revealed that Hawaii officials seriously underestimated the deadly threat posed by wildfires, even as they acknowledged a lack of necessary resources to mitigate them.
Last year, when Hawaii officials released a report ranking the natural disasters most likely to threaten state residents, tsunamis, earthquakes, and volcanic hazards were given high priority. Meanwhile, wildfires were labeled as having a low risk to human life. However, the catastrophic fires that recently engulfed Maui and the historic town of Lahaina have now become the state’s deadliest natural disaster in more than six decades, with a fatality count of at least 80.
The CNN review found that reports over the past five years indicated that authorities were aware of the increasing risk of fires, especially when exacerbated by hurricane-force winds. One report noted the challenges faced by first responders and firefighters when fires occur simultaneously with major threats or disasters, such as hurricanes.
Despite this knowledge, Hawaii officials did not allocate adequate funds for wildfire prevention and mitigation. A 2021 report on wildfire prevention in Maui County stated that funds were “inadequate” to combat the increasing number of acres consumed by wildfires. The report also highlighted a “significant oversight” in the county fire department’s strategic plan, which failed to address preventive measures against fires.
Furthermore, the state emergency management agency’s public resources webpage provided clear, bullet-point recommendations for residents on what to do in the event of hurricanes, tsunamis, flash floods, and earthquakes. However, there was little advice on wildfires, indicating a lack of preparedness for this particular disaster.
The increase in wildfires in Hawaii is attributed to several factors, including worsening drought conditions, the introduction of flammable nonnative grass species, and climate change. Data from federal sources revealed that Maui has faced growing drought conditions in recent years, making the grasslands extremely flammable. Despite these mounting dangers, state budgets for fire management have not kept up with the worsening conditions.
Hawaii is not alone in its struggle to respond to new threats brought about by climate change. State officials across the country are facing similar challenges in preparedness and mitigation efforts.
The devastating fires in Lahaina serve as a wake-up call for Hawaii to take fire prevention more seriously. State officials have acknowledged the need for better fire safety measures in the future and are planning to implement more aggressive plans, such as replacing flammable nonnative grass species and enhancing resources for fire management.
The destruction caused by the Lahaina wildfire has left a lasting impact on the residents of Hawaii. The event serves as a reminder that many places in Hawaii are highly vulnerable to wildfires, and urgent action is needed to prevent future disasters.