Maui's Mishandling of Wildfires Ignites Frustration and Congressional Threats

Five years ago, wildfires in Lahaina, Maui were narrowly avoided reaching the town center, thanks to luck and quick evacuations. However, recent wildfires in the same area have devastated the town, resulting in the loss of thousands of homes and businesses and the deaths of at least 115 people. Concerns raised after the 2018 fires, such as the lack of civil defense sirens and failure to shut down power lines during high winds, were not addressed, leading to a missed opportunity to prevent the recent disaster. Despite pleas for action and requests for an after-action report, officials have not taken sufficient measures to improve emergency response.