The Maui Police Department has released the findings of its final after-action report for the wildfires on Aug. 8, 2023. The report provides a review of the department’s response and outlines 35 recommendations for improving emergency operations.

According to department officials, the final report builds on a 98-page preliminary report issued in February 2024, which included 32 initial recommendations.

In addition to those recommendations, the final report features three new recommendations, one from the Maui Fire Department, one from a joint report by the Fire Safety Research Institute and the Hawai’i Attorney General, and one additional recommendation from Maui police.

The three new recommendations include:

• Ensuring that dispatch teams are fully staffed by hiring additional personnel as needed. Additionally, all personnel must be cross-trained to improve responsiveness during a mass casualty event. There should also be a maintained list of trained individuals, such as retired personnel, who may be available to provide communication support during an event.

• Expand and enhance Maui County’s aerial capabilities.

• Collaborate with the fire department to establish a unified command structure for supervisors and above. This initiative aims to improve coordination and consistency and to focus on strengthening the incident command system within both departments through joint training and integration efforts.

The after-action report documents the critical role that police personnel played during the disaster, highlighting successful actions, challenges and ways to strengthen future response efforts.

The report details evacuations, road closures, search and recovery operations, dispatch, and the maintenance of public safety amidst the ever-changing climate, offering insight into how the department operated during the fires.

“As we reflect on the devastating fires that claimed 102 lives, we do so with deep respect and an unwavering commitment to learning, improving, and honoring those we lost,” Police Chief John Pelletier said in a statement. “This final report is not only a record of what transpired but also a blueprint for how we can move forward as a stronger and more resilient community.”

To view the full after-action report, visit tinyurl.com/3y4a86w4.