An investigation into the catastrophic Maui wildfires, which claimed the lives of 101 people, destroyed hundreds of homes, and caused $6 billion in damages, has unveiled a series of issues regarding emergency preparation and coordination leading up to and during the disaster.

One significant problem highlighted was the use of “WhatsApp” by chief officers and some Maui Fire Department staff for situational awareness updates. However, not all members of the department were utilizing the app. Additionally, there was “minimal” pre-positioning of staff and equipment following the issuance of a red flag warning by the National Weather Service before the outbreak of the four major wildfires on August 8, 2023.

But the new 84-page report produced by the Western Fire Chiefs Association also acknowledges the “whole island’s limited resources, which were extremely challenged by the scope and scale of the collective incidents.”

“After conducting over 200 interviews and reviewing numerous data sets, it is clear that the four major wildfires pushed the (Maui Fire Department) to an unprecedented level of strain. Despite this, the collective actions by MFD and law enforcement saved many lives and property across the island,” the report says.

“Nearly every staff member and vehicle resource of MFD on Maui was deployed. The emergency response system did not break but rather it found itself outmatched by the extreme weather and fire conditions. Staff members endured shifts of 36 hours or more and risked their lives in a valiant effort to stop the spread of the fires and save lives.”

The preliminary findings include a comprehensive timeline of events. The attorney general has indicated that further findings will be released later this year.

Already, the report from the fire chief association has uncovered numerous problems and challenges, along with 111 recommendations aimed at preventing or mitigating similar disasters in the future.