"Communication Breakdown and Lack of Urgency: Lessons from Maui Wildfires"

Investigations into the Maui wildfires last August reveal a series of failures in planning and infrastructure, including downed power lines, blocked evacuation routes, and poor communications, which allowed the blazes to grow into a monstrous conflagration, killing at least 101 people and destroying 2,200 structures. Reports commissioned by the Hawaii attorney general and the Western Fire Chiefs Association highlight issues such as failed pipes, low water pressure, overwhelmed emergency responders, and communication breakdowns. These problems were exacerbated by extreme weather conditions and invasive grasses, fueled by climate change and historical land use. Multiple investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the fire and provide recommendations to prevent similar disasters in the future.