Wildfire readiness grows across Hawaii as rain fuels vegetation surge

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Recent heavy rains across Hawaii could increase wildfire risk later this year as new vegetation growth dries out and becomes fuel, officials warned.

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The recent Kona Lows brought widespread rainfall across the islands, triggering a surge in vegetation growth. But officials warn that growth can quickly become dangerous once dry conditions set in.

“All of that growth drying out in the fall time, which is going to increase our fire risk because it’s less than average rainfall to be expected then,” said Nani Barretto, co-director of the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization.

Barretto said the pattern highlights why residents need to prepare before conditions worsen.

“Hawaii is a very fire-prone state. It doesn’t matter what side of the island you live on. All it takes is a couple of days for the vegetation to dry out and to be combustible and fuel for fire,” she said.

Officials say that preparation includes clearing dead vegetation around homes, gutters, lanais, and propane tanks, as well as creating defensible space by spacing trees and shrubs and keeping home addresses visible for emergency responders.

The organization’s “Ready, Set, Go” program is also being promoted statewide as part of ongoing wildfire prevention efforts.

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Fire prevention has gained urgency in Hawaii since the 2023 Maui wildfires, which prompted the expansion of community-based mitigation programs such as Firewise.

Barretto said dozens of communities across the state are now participating in Firewise efforts, including neighborhood cleanup projects aimed at reducing wildfire fuels.

“We had 40 different firewise communities that did something this month,” she said, citing curbside chipping events and green waste removal projects.

Officials say those local efforts are critical as wildfire risk persists year-round in Hawaii.

“The hazards, the threat, it’s not going anywhere. It’s only going up. We live in a fire-prone state. And so our goal is to be ready when a wildfire happens,” Barretto said.

Officials continue to urge residents to develop evacuation plans before emergencies occur and take preventive steps now, before dry conditions increase fire danger.

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