Hawaiʻi AG Launched Independent Review of State Response to Maui Wildfires

AUGUST 11, 2023

On August 11, 2023, Hawaiʻi Attorney General Anne Lopez announced that her office would be conducting a ” comprehensive review of critical decision-making and standing policies leading up to, during, and after the wildfires on Maui and Hawaiʻi islands” in August 2023, following a request by the governor. A later press release stated that the review would be completed by a “third-party private organization with experience in emergency management and processes,” and that the goal of the review would be to assess state and county agencies’ preparation for and response to the wildfires.

On August 31, 2023, AG Lopez announced that the UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), a nonprofit research institute dedicated to addressing the world’s
unresolved fire safety risks and emerging dangers, had been selected to complete the review.

On April 17, 2024, AG Lopez announced that the Phase One report and timeline had been released. Phase One focused on pre-fire conditions, fire progression, and emergency response. AG Lopez explained that the purpose of Phase One was to identify the facts, while Phase Two will analyze the facts, and Phase Three will make recommendations for the future.