A Look Back – Maui Wildfires, August 8, 2023

Today marks one year since the devastating wildfires in Maui, which claimed 102 lives and inflicted significant environmental and property damage.

Mark Niemeyer, WFCA President | Fire Chief, Boise Fire Department

Today is the one-year anniversary of the tragic wildfires that Maui endured last year.  The collective wildfires caused the loss of 102 lives, countless injuries, lost and damaged homes, and vast environmental damage.   Additionally, the emotional toll on residents, families, and public safety personnel is still being felt.

The After-Action Report (AAR) was commissioned by Fire Chief Brad Ventura to focus on the County of Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety (MFD). The primary objective was to identify lessons learned, enabling future enhancements for the next major event. While the AAR focuses on the collective Olinda, Kula, Pulehu, and Lahaina Fires, the identified lessons learned and enhancements can apply to other large-scale incidents beyond wildfires, such as hurricanes.  

This AAR examines the whole island’s limited resources, which were extremely challenged by the scope and scale of the collective incidents. After conducting over 200 interviews and reviewing numerous data sets, it’s clear these four wildfires stressed the MFD to a level never experienced before. Despite this, their collective actions saved many lives and property across the island. The extreme Red Flag weather conditions simply outmatched first responders and similarly with a hurricane, one must let nature pass before proceeding with action. The insights gained from this AAR should not be confined to Maui alone; instead, they can also serve as a guide for other islands and small isolated communities on the mainland with limited resources.

Stemming from the challenges and lessons learned during this wildfire siege, there are numerous recommendations found in the AAR. They are also based upon foundational elements that the MFD, County, State, and the Hawai’i Wildfire Management Organization have been striving to implement since 2010. Achieving collective success relies on the support from first responders, policymakers, and the public.

While nothing can replace the lives, number of injuries, property, and cultural history lost, the community will rebuild and emerge more resilient than ever. As climate change induces unprecedented extreme weather conditions, the lessons learned from this experience will pave the way for MFD and others to respond effectively to future challenges.