Emergency Response to Maui Fires Plagued With Communication Issues, New Reports Find

Communication issues left authorities uninformed about the deteriorating situation and residents without emergency alerts, according to the reports.

A Mercy Worldwide volunteer makes damage assessment of charred apartment complex in the aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina, western Maui, Hawaii, on August 12, 2023. Yuki Iwamura/AFP

The emergency response to the deadly wildfires that ravaged Maui, Hawaii, in August of last year, was plagued by communication issues, according to the findings of a new report published on Wednesday.

The report, commissioned by Maui Fire Department (MFD) Fire Chief Bradford Ventura and conducted by the Western Fire Chiefs Association, acknowledges the courageous efforts of firefighters, law enforcement, and community members who assisted one another during the fires in 2023.