#21 Hawaii Wildfire Update: >1000 Wildfires in past decade.

1. The average area burned per year in Hawaii has increased 400% over the past century.
2. Over the past decade, an average of >1000 wildfires burned
3. >17,000 acres each year in Hawai‘i, with the percentage of total land area burned comparable to and often exceeding figures for the fire-prone western US.
4. Humans have caused much of the increase in wildfire threat by increasing the abundance of ignitions and introducing nonnative, fire-prone grasses and shrubs.
5. Non-native grasslands and shrublands now cover nearly one-quarter of Hawaii's total land area.

Cause

Hawaii's electric utility has conceds culpability in the ignition of a wildfire on Maui.

The utility has raised concerns over the actions of county firefighters who prematurely declared the initial fire as subdued and subsequently withdrew from the scene. This premature departure inadvertently led to the emergence of a second wildfire in close proximity, which tragically evolved into the most lethal conflagration witnessed in the United States in over a century.

The utility revealed, for the first time, their understanding of the ignition source of the initial fire. According to their assessment, the fire's origin can be attributed to the toppling of power lines in the midst of vigorous winds. Earlier conjectures had suggested that the presence of exposed electrical wiring and leaning utility poles might have contributed to the incident.

• The White House said on Wednesday that it would provide $95 million to improve Hawaii’s electric grid.

Dry conditions combined with high winds and droughts contributed to the unprecedented fires

The invasive grasses, which grew tall during the wet season, quickly dried out during the dry season – making them extremely flammable.?

The dry vegetation combined with the drought conditions made for the perfect environment for wildfires.

Search for the Dead Nears Its End: Now begins the grim task of clearing devastation

• The E.P.A. is beginning to remove hazardous material from the approximately 2,200 destroyed structures in the Lahaina burn area, now that the land search for victims is finished.
• The official death toll has remained at 115 for several days and may not go much higher. Maui County has publicly identified 45 people after notifying their families.

At least 115 people have died and authorities have warned the death toll could climb in the coming days.

Numbers by the end of August 2023

Total fires: 4+

Total area: 17,000+ acres (6,880+ ha)

Cost: ~$6 billion (as of August 12)

Date(s): August 8, 2023 – present

Cause: Downed power line; Propagated by dry conditions and high winds

Buildings destroyed: 2,207

Deaths: 115+

Non-fatal injuries: 67+

Missing people: 388

Maui Before and After Pictures

The Maui wildfire, with a death toll of 99 as of Monday, ranks among the top 10 deadliest wildfires since 1871.

Resources:

Wildfire in Hawaii Factsheet ?

News and Reports:

Hawaii power utility takes responsibility for first fire on Maui, but faults county firefighters | AP News ?

Update on Maui: How did the Hawaii wildfires start? | The Independent ?

Maui Wildfires Latest: Search for the Dead Nears Its End - The New York Times ?

Hawaii wildfires: Here's what we know about the victims - BBC News ?

Bodies and Organizations:

Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization (HWMO)