Hawaiʻi state officials have released the Lahaina Fire Forward-Looking Report (Phase Three), an independent report conducted by the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), part of UL Research Institutes.
The report, as detailed by FSRI, consolidates findings from the Lahaina Fire Comprehensive Timeline Report (Phase One) and the Lahaina Fire Incident Analysis Report (Phase Two) and identifies actionable priorities for wildfire preparedness.
It includes recommendations for completing Community Risk Assessments, Community Risk Reduction plans, and Standards of Cover analyses, all aimed at improving the state’s future response to wildfires.
FSRI has provided Hawaiʻi’s state and county agencies with guidance documents to facilitate these measures.
The report highlights several high-priority recommendations, including the staffing of an Office of the State Fire Marshal and engaging state agencies in implementing findings from Phase Two.
FSRI is collaborating with the Hawaiʻi Department of the Attorney General (DOAG) and the Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization to expedite preparations for the new office.
The report also evaluates Maui County’s fire code and standards adoption processes to identify areas for improvement.
FSRI Executive Director Steve Kerber emphasized: “Our objective in the Phase Three report is to provide the State of Hawaiʻi and the County of Maui with a clear roadmap to initiate progress.”
Phase Three is the final installment in a series of reports commissioned by the DOAG.
Phase One, released in April 2024, documented a detailed timeline of the events surrounding the Lahaina fire between August 8 and August 9, 2023.
This included preparedness efforts, weather conditions, and other fires on Maui.
Phase Two, published in September 2024 and later revised, provided a detailed analysis of weather, infrastructure conditions, incident management, and fire suppression efforts.
It also assessed the fire’s impact on Lahaina’s built environment.
Together, these reports form a comprehensive framework to understand and address wildfire risks in Hawaiʻi.
The Lahaina Long-Term Recovery Plan, released by Maui County prior to the Phase Three report, includes several “Priority Projects” that align with the findings from Phase Two.
These projects are outlined in Section 7 of the recovery plan and emphasize coordination between state and county initiatives.
The alignment of these plans underscores the shared goal of strengthening wildfire resilience across Hawaiʻi.
The Lahaina Fire Forward-Looking Report (Phase Three), conducted by the Fire Safety Research Institute, prioritizes wildfire preparedness for Hawaiʻi.
Key recommendations include staffing an Office of the State Fire Marshal and improving fire codes in Maui County.
This report builds on the Phase One and Phase Two findings, offering a roadmap for state and county agencies to enhance wildfire prevention and response efforts.
The report is part of a broader initiative to address the risks highlighted by the 2023 Lahaina fire, with FSRI providing guidance for Community Risk Assessments, Community Risk Reduction plans, and Standards of Cover analyses.
