The heartbreaking details of the 2023 Maui wildfires circulated through the news media for months following the tragedy. In the end, the death toll stood at over 100 lives lost, making this the deadliest fire in modern U.S. history.
While we can’t wind back the clock and change the tragic outcome of these fires, the next best thing we can do is to learn from what happened so that our families and communities are better prepared for the next catastrophic wildfire.
And unfortunately, it is a question of when, not if.
For many Americans, the threat of wildfire is significant and growing. An analysis by Verisk concluded that almost 3.3 million properties in the United States face a high to extreme risk for wildfire. 1.7 million of those properties are located in California. The rest are in states including Texas, Idaho, Colorado, Arizona, Oregon, and Washington.
If you live in an area that is prone to wildfires, what can you do to be ready for a worst-case scenario?
Know Your Threats
While it may seem like the Maui wildfires came out of the blue, the truth is that wildfires on Maui were an ongoing problem. After 20,000 acres burned in the 2019 wildfire season, the Maui County government commissioned a report on wildfire prevention. The report, published in 2021, assessed a growing threat of wildfire from a variety of factors including an overgrowth of plant life that became dry and combustible in summer months. The report also highlighted the lack of escape and evacuation routes for Maui County residents.
If you live in an area that is susceptible to wildfires – even if a wildfire has not affected your community – it is critical to take it upon yourself to understand the threats to your area in as much detail as possible. The worst choice would be to assume that because a wildfire has not directly impacted you in the past, it won’t in the future.
If you haven’t taken the time to assess the wildfire threat to your community, I would strongly recommend that you do so before the next fire season. There are many public resources available, such as wildfirerisk.org, which can help you determine your risk level. You can likely also find public reports online published by your state or local government, such as the 2021 Maui wildfire report.
Buck the Normalcy Bias
Wildfires of various sizes had become such a common occurrence on Maui, that it seems most residents had come to expect them. First-hand accounts of the 2023 fires in Lahaina reveal that on the morning of August 4th, residents were aware of several fires, but disregarded them as nothing out of the ordinary.
This is an example of what is referred to as normalcy bias – a bias that causes people to minimize the likelihood that a disaster will seriously affect them.
Unfortunately, because wildfires were common on Maui, most Lahaina residents stayed put throughout the day of the tragedy, despite the warning signs. By the time the fires became a significant, life-threatening crisis around 3 p.m, it was too late for many people to get out of town.
It’s easy to disregard potential threats and go about your day while hoping for the best. Assuming that everything will be fine, just like it always is, can have catastrophic consequences. When a disaster strikes, it is critical to treat it seriously and take action before it’s too late.
Have a Wildfire Plan
As is often the case in disasters, there was never an official emergency warning or evacuation order in Lahaina. The city quickly became an inferno, covered in thick black smoke. Residents trying to escape had to abandon their vehicles due to gridlock caused by a sudden mass exodus. Many were left with no choice but to jump into the ocean to avoid being burned alive. Others attempted to escape in their vehicles, but were blocked by barricades that officials had set up on roadways earlier in the day due to fires and downed power lines.
After conducting a threat assessment of your area, the next critical step is to develop plans for how you’ll respond to each potential crisis. Waiting until a crisis to make your plan can have disastrous consequences.
If your threat assessment shows that your area is at risk of wildfire, you need a plan for exactly what you’ll do if wildfires break out in your area. When will you evacuate? How will you get out of town? How will you regroup with your family if you are separated? Nailing down the answers to these questions ahead of time is key.
Parting Thoughts
Hopefully your family will never experience a wildfire in your community. However, by conducting a threat assessment, taking threats seriously, and having a response plan in place, you can rest easier at night knowing that you’ll be ready.
If you’re interested in conducting a threat assessment of your area, check out Guide to Disaster Readiness. Duane Liptak walks through each step of how to assess the threats to your area and how to make response plans for worst-case scenarios.
