KULA, Hawaii — The sight of discarded car tires, propane tanks, gas generators, and old appliances waiting to be collected brought a sense of calm to Desiree Graham. “It means that all that stuff is no longer cluttering people’s yards,” she said on a windswept July afternoon in Kahikinui, a secluded Native Hawaiian community in southeast Maui known for its wildfire risk.
During June, local residents and volunteers dedicated four weekends to clearing debris from their properties, aiming to establish “defensible space.” This initiative involved removing ignitable vegetation and rubbish around homes. Collectively, they eliminated 12 tons of waste. “It’s an eyesore, yet it symbolizes something beautiful,” remarked Graham, a member of Kahikinui’s Firewise committee. This group forms part of a rapidly expanding program under the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association that helps residents evaluate and mitigate their communities’ fire risks.
Kahikinui is among numerous Hawaiian communities seeking protection strategies amid rising challenges posed by climate change, urbanization, and detrimental land policies, which collectively contribute to more severe fires. Hawaii has around 250,000 acres of unmanaged agricultural land, with the majority of buildings located in the wildland-urban interface, and two-thirds of communities relying on a single access road.
Yet experts emphasize that communities can significantly bolster their resilience by transforming their neighborhoods, despite the external influences challenging them. “Fire is different from other natural hazards; it moves only where there is fuel, and we have significant control over that,” explained Nani Barretto, co-executive director of the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization (HWMO), a leading nonprofit in Hawaii’s fire-risk prevention.
Communities across the United States are grappling with similar challenges, even in regions unfamiliar with fire threats previously. A Headwaters Economics analysis identified 1,100 communities in 32 states facing fire risks akin to areas recently impacted by urban wildfires. A growing ‘Firewise’ movement is gaining momentum.
HWMO assists areas like Kahikinui to achieve Firewise recognition. Prior to the devastating August 2023 fires in Maui that ravaged Lahaina, 15 communities in Hawaii had joined Firewise USA. This number has since surged to 31, with several more in the process of joining. Reflecting on the aftermath of the fires, Shelly Aina, former chair of the Firewise committee for Waikoloa Village, recalled the pervasive sense of urgency in her community.
Waikoloa Village, located on the Big Island, lies in a region with dry invasive grasses and just one main access road, making it particularly vulnerable. Since being recognized as a Firewise community in 2016, volunteers have worked diligently, including removing trees alongside homes as fire breaks. The homeowners’ association even approved extra fees for vegetation management. These actions underscore the effectiveness of community-driven efforts in wildfire-prone regions.
Dr. Jack Cohen, a retired U.S. Forest Service scientist, remarked that significant firefighting solutions lie within communities, not merely in distant fire breaks, as these often fail under extreme conditions. “Urban fires usually start not from the flames directly,” he noted, “but from embers that travel far and ignite combustible materials in homes or yards.”
Cohen highlighted that solutions often involve simple changes, targeting areas within 100 feet of homes where embers could catch. This often necessitates coordinated community undertakings, as individual home preparedness depends partly on neighboring properties’ conditions. “A house is only as ignition-resistant as its neighbors,” said Cohen.
Despite a surge in awareness about fire resilience, community leaders still encounter difficulties in motivating neighbors. Mitigating fire risks often requires financial investments, time, and ongoing efforts. It’s insufficient to mow grass intermittently; vegetation needs consistent management. While participants try to offer affordable solutions, like installing metal screening to block embers, financial constraints remain significant barriers.
HWMO strives to alleviate costs when possible, providing grants for services like waste disposal. They have expanded their grant program post-Maui fires with assistance from donors including the Bezos Earth Fund and the American Red Cross. Barretto noted that even modest financial aid can rally communities into action. “With some funding, they mobilize themselves,” she said.
Amidst uncertainty surrounding federal funding for climate mitigation, more extensive financial support for community transformation is essential, according to Kimi Barrett from Headwaters Economics. Investments in resilience cost a fraction of potential post-disaster economic losses, Barrett added, citing studies showing substantial financial savings per dollar invested in preparedness.
However, convincing residents to act can be challenging when adjacent land remains unmanaged. Bigger stakeholders are beginning to respond; legislation now mandates a state fire marshal, and utility companies are investing in preventative measures like undergrounding power lines and installing AI cameras.
Communities involved in Firewise initiatives gain leverage to solicit further support, demonstrating their commitment to self-help through proactive mitigation measures. For instance, after joining Firewise, Kawaihae Village successfully lobbied for fuel breaks on neighboring lands.
“Without Firewise, we wouldn’t have garnered attention,” asserted Brenda DuFresne, a Kawaihae Firewise committee member, summarizing the importance of self-initiative to drive broader change.