Lahaina Fire Incident Analysis Report Released by the Attorney General of Hawaii

The attorney general of Hawaii has released the Lahaina Fire Incident Analysis Report, which examines the tragic fire that devastated much of Lahaina, Hawaii, on Aug. 8 and 9, 2023. This report, the second in a series of 3 commissioned by the Hawaii Department of the Attorney General, was prepared by the Fire Safety Research Institute, part of UL Research Institutes.

The Phase Two report focuses on the events leading up to, during and immediately following the Lahaina PM fire. It discusses preparedness efforts, weather and its impact on infrastructure, and other fires occurring in Maui. Using a systems analysis methodology, the report presents relevant background information; describes weather, fuel and infrastructure conditions, as well as communication, incident management, fire suppression and evacuation efforts; and details the impact of the fire on Lahaina's built environment. It also considers these factors in the context of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy. However, the report does not include an analysis of recovery efforts or the fire's cause and origin, as these are being investigated by Maui County with assistance from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

This report follows the Lahaina Fire Comprehensive Timeline Report released on April 17 and will serve as the foundation for the Phase Three report, which will include standards of cover analysis to assess the capabilities of the Maui County Fire Department, a Community Risk Assessment to analyze natural and human-caused risks to Maui, a community risk reduction plan to help mitigate risk, and a review. You can access the report at http://fsri.org/resource/phase-two-lahaina-fire-incident-analysis-report.