AG releases ‘phase 2 ‘of Maui wildfire report focusing on systemic issues, factors that led to the disaster

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - State Attorney General Anne Lopez and officials with the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) released “phase two” of their comprehensive investigations into the Maui wildfire disaster in a news conference Friday morning.

“I engaged FSRI to complete an objective, independent review of the facts of the wildfire to complete a science evidence based analysis of the reactions and the actions of state and county agencies, and to provide evidence based best practices that county and state government can employ going forward to ensure a safe and resilient Hawaii,” Lopez said, in the news conference.

“To be clear, this report is not to cast blame.”

On Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires fueled by hurricane-force winds raged across the island, killing 102 people and decimating the historic town of Lahaina.

Special Section: Maui Wildfires

The report, over 500 pages long, and related documents were posted on the state’s website. It focused on a “complex” interaction of factors that led to the disaster and recommendations that can be implemented immediately.

“This report concludes the devastation caused by the Lahaina fire cannot be connected to one specific organization. Individual action or event. The conditions that made this tragedy possible were years in the making,” said Steve Kerber, vice president and executive director of FSRI.

Phase Two of the report identifies three key areas that need immediate attention:

• Perception of risk and preparedness — The report found systemic issues tied to years of decisions that led to underinvestment in wildfire prevention. Despite the growing wildfire threat in Hawaii, there’s a widespread lack of preparedness among government officials and residents.
• Infrastructure standards — Decades-old infrastructure standards and vegetation management were key contributors to the devastation. The wildfire spread rapidly through closely packed structures within Lahaina’s dense urban layout, creating obstacles for evacuation.
• Incident management and coordination — The report also found there a lack of sufficient communication between responding agencies and the public.

WATCH: Full press conference with state attorney general and Fire Safety Research Institute

This is the second of three reports from the attorney general’s independent analyses of the Aug. 8 fires. While this report focused on scientific analysis with recommendations that can be implemented, the first report highlighted the facts of the disaster and the third report will identify broader systemic recommendations for the future.

“I feel very strongly about the idea that distrust in government can only be lessened through truth, transparency, and a willingness to learn from the past,” Lopez said.

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Officials also announced they have released to the public a collection of documents and media obtained during the investigation, including Maui Police Department body camera footage, 911 dispatch audio files and more.

One of the recordings released included an interview with Herman Andaya, the controversial administrator of the Maui Emergency Management Agency on Aug. 8.

Andaya was at a hotel on Oahu for a conference when the fires ripped across Maui.

He was interviewed in January and was asked when he learned about the deadly wildfires.

“Just in general, did you find out that day that Lahaina was being evacuated or was it sometime after August 8?,” the interviewer said.

In response, Andaya said, “I heard that a section of Lahaina was being evacuated. I didn’t know it was all of Lahaina, it was just a section. And I didn’t know about the downed power lines, or I didn’t know about the challenges. I didn’t know about the downed power lines until after I returned.”

This story will be updated.

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