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By RYAN MITCHEL COLLINS
Managing Editor
WAILUKU--On Friday in Honolulu, Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez released the phase two report conducted by the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) regarding the Lahaina fires that occurred on Aug. 8, 2023.
In August 2023, Lopez selected the independent, third-party FSRI to assess the performance of state and county agencies in preparing for and responding to the Maui wildfires in a three-phase report. FSRI has extensive experience researching fire dynamics, structure-to-structure fire spread, and near-miss firefighting incidents.
"The issue of liability is clearly one that is out there, that is always going to be out there whenever there's any sort of an event," Lopez said of the report when asked why no liability has been placed as to a cause of the fires. "The governor's focus and my focus has been to decide that good governance is more important than liability, or worrying about liability."
Lopez added that good governance means that, "We have to act and we have no excuse to not act with the findings and recommendations that are in this report and that are in phase three."
Lopez reiterated that the purpose of the report was not to cast blame, or point fingers and that no one event, person, or action caused the outcomes of the fire.
Lopez was asked when the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) report on the fires of Aug. 8, 2023, would come out and how it related to the attorney general's phase two report.
"I can't answer most of those questions," Lopez said in response. "I understand that the ATF report is complete, or close to completion. It is not part of this report ... I believe they have had conversations with the ATF team who is doing the investigation."
"This Phase Two report incorporates science- and evidence-based analyses with information from FSRI's fire dynamics research, local subject matter experts, industry standards and best practices, and the collective experiences of FSRI's research team. This report does not include an analysis of recovery efforts or the fire's cause and origin, which is being investigated by the County of Maui with assistance from the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)," the phase two report states under the acknowledgments.
"There are things that we understand about the cause and origin," Derek Alkonis, said. Alkonis is the research program manager for the Fire Safety Institute. "We've seen a lot of news pieces on it, right? We know that the electrical infrastructure was involved. We saw that. And we know the grass was involved and then the fire got moving into the built environment."
Alkonis added that the report will show these factors.
"They will take us through the a.m. fire – how it started – and the p.m. fire," Alkonis said. "Whether or not they're related or they're independent fires, they're going to explain all of that information."
Alkonis explained the phase two report as a comprehensive report in the way of looking at prevention and preparedness, and the actions taken by emergency responders.
"Our objective is to conduct a comprehensive, independent analysis assessing the policies and performance of state and county agencies in preparing for and responding to the Maui wildfires," Steve Kerber, the executive director and vice president of FSRI said. "Since the release of the comprehensive timeline in April 2024, our team has been systematically analyzing relevant background information, communications, incident management, evacuation efforts, and the impact of the fire on Lahaina's built environment."
Lopez concluded the press conference by adding, "I think the risk is real and it's a present danger. And climate change will only continue to make these things worse. With this in mind, I want to reiterate that this administration is committed to ensuring that we don't sit on these recommendations. That we learn from the past and that we move forward in a collaborative manner with county agencies, with other organizations, and individuals to ensure that we create a safer Hawaii."
Phase one of the report was released on April 17, 2024. It can be viewed in its entirety via the link below: https://d1gi3fvbl0xj2a.cloudfront.net/2024-04/FSRI_Lahaina_Fire-Comprehensive_Timeline_Report_04_17_2024_Redacted_Final_0.pdf.
Phase two of the report was released on Sept. 13, 2024. The report can be viewed in its entirety via the link below: https://d1gi3fvbl0xj2a.cloudfront.net/2024-09/FSRI_Lahaina_Report__Redactions_09102024.pdf.