3 strategies Maui can adopt from other states to help prevent dangerous wildfires

Following the deadliest U.S. wildfire in the last century in West Maui, three strategies used by other states could help prevent such disasters.

Identified issues: The recent wildfire in West Maui highlights the risk areas in Hawaii, which include dry, invasive grasses and inadequate evacuation plans.
* The Hawaiian government’s own reports had identified West Maui as an area of severe wildfire risk due to its dry, invasive, highly flammable grasses.
* Broad recommendations for improvement included managing dry vegetation, enhancing evacuation plans, and clearing defensible spaces around homes.

Borrowed strategies: Several strategies used in other states could be effective for Hawaii, and encompass better evacuation technology, mandatory clearing of flammable vegetation, and rebuilding homes to resist wildfire embers.
* With current warning methods proving inadequate, the adoption of siren networks used in places like Mill Valley, California and Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula, which can also broadcast voice messages detailing the specific threat, could help ensure timely evacuations.
* Following California’s mandate for homeowners in high-risk areas to clear flammable brush and grass could help reduce the spread of fires. If a homeowner fails to comply, the city hires a contractor to do the work and places a lien on the property.
* A requirement for new construction to use fire-resistant materials, as implemented in California and other states, could help homes resist wildfire embers. These rules would cover roofs, siding, windows, and ventilation, limiting the risk of embers igniting a building.

Key Obstacles: Despite the effectiveness of these strategies, the implementation is limited by funding constraints and resistance from certain sectors.
* Communities like West Maui face challenges in obtaining the funding needed to manage large areas of vegetation.
* Despite the increased risk of wildfires, wildfire building codes have seen pushback in some states, particularly from home building associations.

View original article on NPR

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