The Maui Police Department released its first report regarding the fire response to the deadly blazes that engulfed the Hawaiian island in August.
Investigators said that "severe weather" fed the flames at the time and that many of the already limited roads became impassable due to the heat. They also noted that an already understaffed police force was left to grapple with communications and equipment issues that had not previously been anticipated.
Hawaii Fire Response Report
The findings of the preliminary after-action investigation were released on Monday by the Maui Police Department. It was the first analysis performed by any of the island's emergency response agencies since wildfires destroyed the historic Lahaina district of the island on Aug. 8, 2023.
The report said that ultimately, the fires killed 100 people, burned through more than 6,600 acres, and left thousands of homes and other structures in ruins. Furthermore, the wind-fed blaze stands as what state officials said was the worst natural disaster in the history of the state as well as the United States' deadliest wildfire in more than a century, as per ABC News.
In the report, Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said that in policing, they respond to dynamic and evolving situations, noting that they cannot control the incidents they respond to. However, he argued that what they can control is their responses in the aftermath.
During a Monday press briefing, Pelletier led the room in 100 seconds of silence to "honor those we lost." He said that if that time seemed long, it is crucial to remember that for the families of the victims, the pain never ends and that the silence is deafening.
The 98-page document painted a picture of chaos on the Hawaiian island as winds coming from a Pacific hurricane fueled a series of blazes that started on Aug. 8, 2023, in four different locations. As one fire was contained, another seemed to start someplace else.
While the cause of the deadly fire is still being investigated, the preliminary report analyzes the police's response to the incident and makes 32 recommendations for improvements. These would help to better prepare for any future catastrophe as well as identify what efforts worked well during the last tragedy, according to Axios.
Making Recommendations for Future Incidents
The report noted that at most times, radio traffic was being monitored by and responded to by a single dispatcher. Typically, radio channels will have at most 15 officers working over a single radio frequency.
Furthermore, it found that police officers had to respond to multiple safety hazard reports, including downed trees, utility poles, power lines, debris on roads, power outages, non-functional traffic signals, and compromised cellular and internet services.
Some of the recommendations of the report included hiring a social media manager to improve and speed up communications. It also noted that authorities should ensure that all commanders participate in live training exercises.
Other recommendations were for officials to direct the public to call a dedicated phone line other than 911 in the event of a disaster. The report added that authorities should equip every supervisory police vehicle with a "breaching kit" that would allow officers to remove debris that is blocking exit points, said Hawaii News Now.
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