Hawaiʻi Attorney General - Anne Lopez announced the results of the Lahaina Fire Incident Analysis Report, the second report of the three-part evidence-based investigation into how state and county governments responded during the Maui wildfires.
impacts, risk, and preparedness
The report reveals no single factor led to the devastation. Instead, a complex set of factors, including weather and its impacts, risk and preparedness, decades-old infrastructure, organizational structure, and incident management and coordination created a historic disaster.
The report was prepared by the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), a part of UL Research Institutes.
emergency services
“This investigation serves as a wake-up call for the state and county governments to learn from the past and urgently prepare for the future,” says Attorney General Lopez, adding “It is also a testament to the courage of our emergency services personnel and the everyday heroes who helped thousands of Lahaina residents and visitors to reach safety.”
This was the most deadly fire in North America in 100 years.
Phase Two analysis
Lahaina Fire Comprehensive Phase One Report facts and timeline identifies the complex set of factors
The Phase Two analysis, informed by the April 17, 2023, Lahaina Fire Comprehensive Phase One Report facts and timeline, identifies the complex set of factors that led to the devastation and includes recommendations that can be implemented immediately.
“Responsible governance requires us to seek answers and better understand how state and county governments responded, and how we can best make efforts to prevent disasters of this magnitude from happening again,” says Attorney General Lopez.
performance assessment
In August 2023, Attorney General Lopez selected the independent, third-party FSRI to assess the performance of state and county agencies in preparing for and responding to the Maui wildfires.
FSRI has extensive experience researching fire dynamics, structure-to-structure fire spread, and near-miss firefighting incidents.
wildfire preparedness, prevention, and operational measures
“The wildfire preparedness, prevention, and operational measures in place that day faced significant — sometimes unprecedented — challenges as the threat escalated. Insufficient resources and investment across multiple domains hindered the development of a unified fire management strategy and impacted prevention, preparedness, and response,” said Steve Kerber, Ph.D., PE, Vice President and Executive Director of FSRI.
He adds, “The report concludes the devastation caused by the Lahaina fire cannot be connected to one specific organization, individual, action or event. The conditions that made this tragedy possible were years in the making.”
