The first phase of a highly anticipated report from Hawaiʻi Attorney General Anne Lopez and UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute includes a comprehensive timeline of the Lahaina fire on Aug. 8 and the days surrounding it.
In the coming days, the HPR news team will bring you stories about how the report impacts local government, Hawaiʻi's main electric utility, and the community.
In August 2023, a series of wildfires burned Maui during a windstorm — including one that killed 101 people in the historic town of Lahaina and became the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century.
The report, one of several from government agencies, could help officials understand exactly what happened when the wind-whipped fire overtook Lahaina, destroying roughly 3,000 properties and causing more than $5.5 billion in estimated damage, according to state officials.
Read the full report below, or click here to open a new window.
“FSRI's goal was to thoroughly document the facts around this tragic event to allow for subsequent analysis and lessons learned. While the phase one report does not analyze causation, it lays the critical foundation for examining the policies, practices, preparedness, and response that will ultimately improve public safety and resilience against similar fire disasters," said Steve Kerber, FSRI vice president and executive director, in a statement.
The report indicates that environmental and geographic factors combined with preparedness and response conditions enabled the Lahaina fire to rapidly intensify.
FSRI said the fire moved at an "incredibly fast" pace of over a mile within 90 minutes. Flames spread from embers, direct flame contact or radiant heat.
Strong winds that fanned the flames also contributed to obstructions along escape routes, including thick smoke that hindered visibility.
The cause of the fire is being investigated by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in partnership with Maui County. It's unclear when the ATF report will be released.
"I want to be clear, the purpose, the underlying foundation of this report is not to place blame on anybody. This is about never letting this happen again. And that is my focus and will continue to be my focus," Lopez said Wednesday at a press conference.
Phase two of the investigation will analyze the data and the role of the fire protection systems. The third and final report from FSRI will recommend improvements for future fire prevention.
Links and resources:
- Fire Safety Research Institute
- Maui Police Department report | PDF
- Maui Fire Department report | PDF
- Relief efforts and ways to support the community on Maui County's Maui Nui Strong website
- Housing and public safety information for affected residents on the Maui Recovers website
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