HONOLULU — Hawaii state officials have unveiled the Lahaina Fire Forward-Looking Report (Phase Three), an independent assessment conducted by the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), part of UL Research Institutes.
This report builds upon the findings of earlier investigations — the Lahaina Fire Comprehensive Timeline Report (Phase One) and the Lahaina Fire Incident Analysis Report (Phase Two).
Phase Three prioritizes a series of actionable recommendations aimed at improving the state’s and counties’ preparedness and response to wildfires. These recommendations outline strategies to address identified priorities and bolster Hawaii’s future wildfire management capabilities, FSRI stated in a press release.
Key elements of the report include guidance for each county fire department to complete a Community Risk Assessment, a Community Risk Reduction Plan and a Standards of Cover Analysis. These initiatives are already underway, with FSRI providing detailed guidance documents to assist the state and counties in their implementation.
The comprehensive approach outlined in the report seeks to enhance wildfire prevention, mitigation, and response efforts across Hawaii, ensuring a more resilient future for communities vulnerable to such disasters.
The Phase Three Report, commissioned by the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture (DOAG), is the final installment in a three-part series. Phase One chronicles events surrounding the Lahaina Fire, compiling over 12,000 timeline entries along with key preparedness and weather data.
Phase Two provides background on conditions, communication, incident management, fire suppression, evacuations and the fire’s impact on Lahaina’s infrastructure.
