West Maui Wildfire Highlights Concerns and Fears of Hawaiians Living in Fire-Prone Communities

Residents of Waianae in Hawaii are expressing concern about the lack of evacuation and rescue plans in case of a wildfire disaster. Samantha DeCorte, a mother of three, stated that her community is located in one of the driest spots on the island, with similar dried vegetation to that which fuelled the recent Maui wildfire. Many Hawaiians are fearful that their communities are at risk of suffering a similar fate to Lahaina, where at least 115 people died, 385 went missing, and over 2,000 structures were destroyed. Invasive grasses, which were brought in by ranchers seeking drought-resistant livestock foliage, have created fertile ground for wildfires. Despite acknowledging the risks posed by invasive vegetation, Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources has limited resources to manage the situation, leading to calls for increased fire hazard removal. The response of state and county authorities to the Maui fire has also been heavily criticized, with emergency management officials being slow to issue warnings and failing to sound sirens. Residents across the state are becoming increasingly concerned about the hazardous conditions and are calling for greater action to prevent future wildfires.