A few days ago, the hurricane forecasts appeared favorable, suggesting that Dora would bypass Hawaii, passing significantly to the south. However, the storm unexpectedly caused havoc on the islands, not in the form of rain, but through hot, dry winds that fueled wildfires as they swept across Maui.
Controlling a fire on a windy day, especially in a dry, mountainous area near a town, poses a worst-case scenario for firefighters. This was the case in Lahaina, a tourism hub, where fires broke out on Tuesday and eventually destroyed the town. The loss of power and disrupted communication further complicated the situation, forcing residents to take refuge in the ocean to escape the flames. Tragically, at least 36 people have lost their lives.
The wildfire in Maui is the most devastating in Hawaii’s modern history, both in terms of human casualties and property damage. It can be compared to California’s infamous 2018 Camp Fire, as well as recent fires in Rhodes, Greece, and Santa Rosa, California in 2017. This event underscores the fact that we are living in a new era characterized by frequent and intense wildfires, which the emeritus professor and wildfire expert Stephen J. Pyne describes as the “pyrocene.” As humans, we are still grappling with how to adapt to this reality, constantly playing catch-up as wildfires ravage our surroundings.
While fires are a natural occurrence in many landscapes, there are still many aspects of fire and smoke science that are not fully understood. The lack of established best practices for mass evacuations during fires exacerbates the challenges faced by communities. Hawaii, unlike fire-prone states like California, has had a limited history with wildfires, resulting in fewer preparations and resources in place. Clay Trauernicht, a fire specialist at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, expresses concern about two factors contributing to the fire risk in the state: old, poorly maintained former plantations and non-native plant species that increase fuel loads.
Dead vegetation serves as fuel for fires, and in Maui, the spread of brush fires into densely populated areas fueled their intensity. This pattern is reminiscent of the Tubbs Fire that occurred in Sonoma County in 2017. Trauernicht emphasizes that once a fire jumps from building to building, controlling it becomes extremely challenging. He believes that the Maui fires should serve as a wake-up call for Hawaii to prepare for more intense wildfires in the future.
Although fire weather conditions—hot, dry, and windy—are not uncommon in Hawaii during this time of year, climate change introduces new variables. Hurricane Lane in 2018, for example, brought both fire and rain to Hawaii simultaneously, complicating emergency response efforts. Researchers have identified hurricane-induced wildfires as a growing phenomenon, and Hurricane Dora might be the latest addition to this list.
Climate change is projected to intensify hurricanes and tropical storms, increasing the potential for interconnected natural disasters such as droughts, wildfires, and storms. Moreover, it exacerbates the behavior and impact of fires. The past few years have witnessed unprecedented fire events in different regions, from Canada and Alaska to Colorado and California. These disasters serve as clear indications of the escalating effects of climate change, as the world heats up and unleashes more energy into the system.
The Maui fires not only serve as a wake-up call for Hawaii but also for the rest of the world. They highlight the ongoing fire age that is engulfing our planet, resulting from a combination of climate-related factors. It is crucial that we recognize and address these challenges, as surprises like the connection between hurricanes and wildfires continue to emerge as a consequence of climate warming.
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