Hawaiʻi Attorney General Anne E. Lopez selected UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) to assess the policies and performance of state and county agencies in preparing for and responding to the Maui wildfires.

FSRI is a non-profit research institute dedicated to addressing the world’s unresolved fire safety risks and emerging dangers.

In a statement Attorney General Lopez said, “I am committed to an independent, unbiased, and transparent investigation into government actions during the fires. I hear the frustration and understand that many have had their belief in government shaken by this unprecedented tragedy. It is crucial to preserve faith in government action by using science and sound investigative techniques to determine the facts.”Attorney General Lopez further emphasized, “We can improve our responsiveness and resilience. Once the FSRI investigation is completed, our next step is to take decisive action to rectify any issues and develop new policies, procedures, and necessary actions to save lives in the future.”

The FSRI will complete an investigation of government agency actions up to and during the first 24 to 72 hours of the fire and its aftermath. According to Attorney General Lopez, the investigation findings will be addressed in three phases, with the final report anticipated in approximately 12 months—in late 2024. Attorney General Lopez will share information with the community and people of Hawaiʻi at the end of each phase and at the completion of the investigation. She also will share the recommendations directed to state and county agencies to prevent and better prepare communities for future disasters.

An outline of the investigation’s three phases can be found below:

Phase 1: Fact-finding about how the fire incident unfolded. 

This phase will take approximately three months and include data gathering on important aspects of the incident. This phase will yield a comprehensive timeline to be the foundation of the analysis.

Phase 2:  Analysis of the data, determining how various fire protection systems functioned in this fire incident. 

This phase should be completed in approximately six months and will yield an Incident Analysis Report that includes review of policies and actions of state and county agencies in preparing for and responding to the incident.

Phase 3:  Best practices that incorporate additional data and recommendations for Hawaiʻi to take action toward prevention.

This phase will yield a Forward-Looking Report to answer the question, “how do we prevent this from happening again?” It will include recommendations, strategies and tactical considerations from subject matter experts. Once this phase is completed, approximately 12 months after the start of the investigation, a report of the findings and recommendations will be shared with the people of Hawaiʻi.

AP Photo