Three Takeaways From The Unprecedented Wildfires In Maui

Three Takeaways From The Unprecedented Wildfires In Maui

The wildfires in Hawaii in late August 2023 were the deadliest in the last century for the US, with 115 casualties and hundreds more people missing. This specific natural catastrophe was brought about by a series of man-made and man-contributed failures: a drought, invasive grasses, poorly maintained equipment, a hurricane driving winds, and more.

Let’s look at this event through a broader lens:

Firstly, the wildfires in Maui provide another example of where Indigenous communities are being disproportionately impacted by climate change. The board chair of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs said that "The fires of today are in part due to the climate crisis, a history of colonialism in our islands, and the loss of our right to steward our ʻāina and wai’”. This is another proof point for the need to adopt locally led climate adaptation initiatives, where power is transferred to local communities.

Secondly, this example shows that businesses need to create sufficient crisis plans. Despite knowing the significant risk of wildfires for several years, utilities in Hawaii did little to strengthen their infrastructure. Prior to the wildfires, Hawaiian Electric neglected to improve equipment, put power lines underground or develop sufficient emergency plans. For example, the utility could have established a power shut-off programme, a strategy which has been successfully adopted in California. By consulting with local authorities and emergency services, Hawaiian Electric could have shut off power, mitigated the impact on the community, and reduced the chance that power lines would ignite fires. In not actioning this, the utility firm may have aggravated the fires – and is consequently being taken to court by Maui County.

Thirdly, extreme weather events are amplified when a myriad of risks are combined. In this instance, invasive grass species, droughts, Hurricane Dora and poor preparation from Hawaiian Electric created a perfect storm. Firms need to think outside the box to conduct a comprehensive risk analysis by taking into account that different risks and impacts can compound.

For more analysis on the US electric grid, climate risks and adaptability, check out our blog series Wiring For Change.