Completing the (Fire) Cycle of Information Sharing

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HWMO is working with its Pacific partners to bring national wildfire preparedness programs to the local level. Photo Credit: HWMO

Check out Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network's feature on HWMO released today, written by Community Outreach Coordinator, Pablo Beimler.

Excited to see the hard work of HWMO and its Pacific partners showcased on the national stage!

Mahalo Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network for the opportunity to share our lessons learned.

From the Source:

"Living in the most remote island chain in the world with over 2,500 miles of Pacific Ocean separating us from the continental U.S. (a.k.a. “the mainland”), it is only fitting that Hawai‘i has a unique set of traits and challenges that can sometimes make one feel isolated from the rest of the world. However, the era of modern networking capabilities is helping shed light on the commonalities we share, while still honoring the differences that make us unique."

"Starting in 2013, HWMO collaborated with the IAFC Ready, Set, Go! program to produce a Hawaii-version of the Wildland Fire Action Guide. IAFC graciously printed 10,000 copies for HWMO and county fire departments to distribute. Replacing photos and references to conifer forests, shake roof homes, and other mainland- WUI features, HWMO integrated Hawai’i-specific photos and information and added an introductory section about wildfire in Hawai’i’. Since incorporating the new guide into our fire preparedness workshops and outreach booths, we’ve noticed a spike in interest from residents and even visitors about the Ready, Set, Go! program. Whether learning how to prevent embers from collecting under the lanai (patio) or browsing the visual list of recommended Firewise native plants, residents have taken the RSG! guides into their own hands. Launiupoko Firewise Committee in West Mauʻi plans to send more than 350 guides to residents as their first ever Firewise event."

Maui Firefighters Extinguish Kula Agricultural Park Brush Fire

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Credit: Asa Ellison/Special to KHON2

HWMO is in the final stages of completing the Upcountry Maui Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP), which will be up on our website soon. More and more wildfires are threatening Upcountry Maui, as witnessed with the latest brush fire that burned around 3 acres off of Pulehu Road below the Kula Agricultural Park. HWMO will be working with Waiohuli Hikina residents in Kula to help them become a Firewise Community this Fall, in preparation of the increase in wildfire activity in the area. 

From the Source: 

"It started at around 3:22 p.m. off Pulehu Road, below Kula Agricultural Park.

Fire officials say it burned two acres north of the road, and one acre to the south of it."

Watch Out for Wildfires

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Currently there are several updates to Community Wildfire Protection Plans in the works, as well as new plans being developed.

Mahalo to The Garden Island for the nice feature on the wildfire situation in Kauai and the Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) that HWMO has been working.

From the Source:

“Don’t be fooled by the rain we might get and think we’re off the hook,” said Elizabeth Pickett, executive director of Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization, a nonprofit that’s dedicated to spreading wildfire education. “Rain makes more vegetation grow, that dries out and then there’s more fuel for wildfire.”

Pablo Beimler, HWMO coordinator, said with the extensive drought period the state experienced earlier this year, and the EL Nino phenomenon that’s in effect “could spell trouble in the number of ignitions and the sizes.”

In preparation for that dry summer, HWMO has been working on six Community Wildfire Protection Plans, which outline the wildfire hazard sand issues each specific community faces, the organizations and entitles that have a stake in wildfire management, and how they can work together to minimize the number and sizes of wildfires this season.

Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization Supports Formation of Firewise Communities in Hawaii

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"According to the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization, about 0.5% of Hawaii’s total land area burns annually, as much or more than the proportion of land are burned in any other US state. In Hawaii, 98% of wildfires are human caused."

We are extremely grateful to be a part of the Firewise Communities program and were highlighted for our efforts in January's National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) Fire Break newsletter!

From the Source:

"Wildfire in Hawaii, like anywhere else, threatens the safety of firefighters, residents andhomes. It also causes damage to the air quality, which impacts human health, and contributes to soil erosion problems that can cause damage to sensitive coral reefs. One of the partners in Hawaii working to help lessen the loss due to wildfire in Hawaii is the Hawaiian Wildfire Management Organization (HWMO). They are a small nonprofit organization that has been working together with fire departments, the Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife, communities and others to help develop Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) and Firewise Communities. The HWMO was officially founded in 2000 by a group of South Kohala/North Kona regional experts who wanted to create a non-profit organization to serve as an arm for the fire suppression and land management agencies to conduct prevention, pre-suppression, and post-fire work. They became incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit in 2002. Since then, they have grown to not only address wildfire issues for all of Hawaii Island, but also the entire state and some of the Western Pacific (namely Yap, Palau, Guam).

According to Pablo Beimler, Coordinator with HWMO, "'Although we have a small staff, HWMO is continually able to accomplish a number of projects due to its extensive partnerships. We can't say it enough: by staying in communication with our partners on each project, and expanding partnerships where needed, they are able to ensure our projects stay grounded and effective.'"

"Pablo described other wildfire preparedness projects in which HWMO is involved. "We have a Firewise demonstration garden in Waikoloa Village, where we have a number of native, drought-tolerant plants growing strategically around a demo home to give community members an example of good defensible space practices. Our team has held a number of community events at the garden and have had a youth environmental empowerment group called the Malama Kai Ocean Warriors help be the ‘stewards’ of the garden. In terms of other youth outreach, we also go to numerous schools and youth programs to teach students about wildfire prevention and preparedness, including Firewise and Ready, Set, Go! principles. We also hold community wildfire preparedness workshops for various organizations/groups or for the general public where we give people a run-down on Firewise and Ready, Set, Go!."  

West Maui Crews Respond to Three Brush Fires Within an Hour

There's a reason why West Maui was the first area in Maui that we covered with a Community Wildfire Protection Plan: it's the most fire-prone region of the County. 

Mahalo to Maui Fire Department for their hard work in keeping three simultaneous brush fires contained!

From the Source: 

"Maui firefighters were busy Thursday after receiving calls for three separate brush fires within an hour in West Maui.

At 10:50 a.m., fire crews responded to multiple reports of a brush fire on Kai Hele Ku Street in Launiupoko. A Lahaina ladder crew arrived at 11 a.m. and was able to contain a grass fire found burning on the north side of Kai Hele Ku Street, just below the roundabout at Haniu Street. The fire burned just over one acre of grass."

Two Small Brush Fires Doused Near Kapalua Ziplines

Wildfires in Western Maui are quite frequent, especially during the dry season. Learn more about what people's wildfires concerns and project ideas are in the area in our Western Maui CWPP.

From the Source: 

Maui Now graphic.

"Maui firefighters doused two small brush fires in West Maui on Wednesday afternoon, May 13, 2015.

The first was reported at 3:34 p.m. in the area of Kapalua Ziplines.

Nāpili firefighters arrived on scene at 3:51 p.m. to find a 30 by 150 foot strip of grass burning along a dirt road."

Hot Under the Collar Over Wildfires

"Wildfires like this one are increasing across the island and are extremely detrimental in a variety of ways." Credit - Chief Eric Moller, USAG-P, FES and HWMO

Highlight of Ilene Grossman (Planning Assistant) and HWMO's efforts to protect Kauai resident and native resources from wildfire!

From the Source:

"'I want to do my part in protecting the Hawaiian Islands’ natural and cultural resources,' says Grossman. 'Wildfires have a devastating impact on our islands in general, and I want to offer my time to help our communities with this growing issue.'

As long as residents do their part by being proactive and informed, the number of fires can decrease. Regular maintenance of yards and landscaping, for example, is one way to help mitigate fires. It’s important for the community to work together to make this happen, including government entities, as wildfires are both dangerous and expensive.

'When fires burn native forest, what comes back are non-native, invasive grasses and other species that are more fire prone, creating a vicious cycle of fire,' explains Grossman.

Additionally, after a fire, soil drifts into the waterways, smothers reefs and impacts water quality. Air quality is yet another concern that especially impacts fire-fighters. Moreover, the cost to taxpayers to put out each fire and rebuild afterward is another negative effect.

Waikoloa Breeze Jan. 2015 - Did You Know?

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Check out our "Did You Know" article explaining why Waikoloa is threatened by wildfires and what HWMO can offer residents to reduce wildfire hazards.

From the Source:

• "The Waikoloa Village area has experienced the largest and most severe wildfires in state history.
• Those fires occurred in situations very similar to what we are currently experiencing - prolonged period of wet weather and vegetation growth followed by drought"

Hawaii Updates CWPPs to Create Fire Adapted Communities

Our week in the national spotlight continued with this highlight from our partners from the Western Region Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy in their latest newsletter:

From the Source: 

"Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization (HWMO) is holding a series of public meetings to hear concerns and solutions to wildfire issues to incorporate in updates to four Community Wildfire Protection Plans. Ilene Grossman, the CWPP Update project manager said, 'We are updating these plans because they have lost community momentum. The projects and input are outdated, and with predicted drought to follow this current vegetation growth, the fire hazard will likely be very high in the near future.' Read more about the CWPP update process here >.
 
HWMO is also initiating six new CWPPs, so that highest risk communities throughout the state of Hawaii will be covered by a CWPP. Funding for the updates and new CWPPs comes from US Forest Service Wildland Urban Interface grants. To follow through with CWPP prioritized actions, HWMO is hosting Ready, Set, Go! wildfire preparedness workshops and distributing a Hawaii version of the Ready, Set, Go! Wildland Fire Action Guide. Community action teams formed during these efforts are further being supported by HWMO to work toward Firewise Communities/USA designations and Fire Adapted Communities overall goals. For more information, see the HWMO website."

Above: Fire in Puu Anahulu burns near Waikoloa, as viewed from Kohala Mountain Road in Waimea (Kamuela) in mid-November.

Input Needed for Community Wildfire Protection Plans

Front page of the West Hawaii Today featuring our recent CWPP meetings. Great article to read to learn about what CWPPs are all about. 

From the Source: 

"Work to reduce wildfire threat on Hawaii Island continued this week as a community meeting was held to generate concerns and solutions.

Feedback garnered Wednesday evening at Konawaena Elementary School will be used to produce an updated Community Wildfire Protection Plan for South Kona. It’s one of four plans being created for free by the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization. Other areas getting an updated plan are Volcano, Ka‘u and Ocean View. The North Kona plan will be developed in the near future.

Community Wildfire Protection Plans are authorized and defined in the Healthy Forests Restoration Act, which gives the public the opportunity to influence where and how agencies should work with communities in implementing fuel reduction projects and protecting resources from loss.

These plans are a prerequisite for federal funding for projects, such as building dip tanks and firebreaks, providing critical education, outreach and field training, getting fire equipment, and upgrading infrastructure and property. Such plans serve as a mechanism for community input and are key to identifying specific projects intended to mitigate fire risk and areas of concern in the wildland-urban interface, or WUI, said Ilene Grossman, Community Wildfire Protection Plans project manager."

"Residents have until March 1 to provide input on the draft plans and can do so by calling the organization at 885-0900 or emailing admin@hawaiiwildfire.org."

Above: "Federal, state, and county firefighters teamed together to suppress a wildland fire burning through ohia forest in Kealakekua mauka in late 2009 and early 2010." Credit - National Park Service/Al Aviles

Kaʻu News Brief - Wildfire Prevention Planning

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From the Source:

"Wildfire prevention planning moved to Ocean View Community Center last night where the Hawai`i Wildfire Management Organization met with residents, asking for input to update the Ka`u Community Wildfire Protection Plan. The team is taking suggestions by mail and email.

 Residents and firefighters talked about only one fire hydrant serving all of Ocean View and noted the plan for a new well, which would allow for numerous hydrants. A dip tank for helicopter water drops and a 3,000 gallon water tank assigned to firefighting were suggested. Homeowners talked about fittings that could connect their catchment and holding tanks with fire fighting equipment. How to manage home water tanks for fire protection was mentioned."

Hawaii Island Community Wildfire Protection Plan Meetings

Community Wildfire Protection Plan update meetings for the Big Island made it onto the front page of Hawaii 24/7:

From the Source: 

"Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization will hold community input meetings to update four Hawaii County Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) for Volcano, Ka‘u, Ocean View, and South Kona communities.

Community input is critical to the CWPP process to determine priority wildfire concerns, needs, and action steps to better prepare and protect fire-prone areas from wildfires.

The CWPP update meetings will identify and prioritize projects to reduce the threat of wildfire to these communities."Community input is critical to the CWPP process to determine priority wildfire concerns, needs, and action steps to better prepare and protect fire-prone areas from wildfires."

Above: "Punaluu Brush Fire" Credit - Hawaii 24/7

West Maui Community Wildfire Protection Plan Signed

We'd like to thank those who came out for the signing event and of course, everyone who contributed to the Western Maui CWPP. Lahaina News covered the event in this article today:

From the Source: 

"Maui County Fire Chief Jeffrey Murray and Wayne F. Ching, fire management officer for the state Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DLNR-DOFAW), last week Thursday signed into action West Maui's first Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) at the Fire Prevention Bureau Office in Wailuku.Anna Foust, emergency management officer for the Maui County Civil Defense Agency, will also be a signatory but was not present at the event.

The West Maui Fire Task Force worked in partnership with the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization to develop the West Maui plan.

Collaborators of the CWPP within the West Maui Fire Task Force include DLNR-DOFAW and DLNR's Division of Aquatic Resources; Maui Fire Department; Maui County Department of Public Works, Planning Department and GIS Division; West Maui Mountains Watershed Partnership; Ridge to Reef Initiative; Pu'u Kukui Preserve (Maui Land and Pineapple Company); Maui County Mayor's Office; and Maui Land and Development Company.

CWPPs have become a prerequisite for receiving federal funding for wildfire protection projects. The plan assists a community in identifying and prioritizing areas for hazardous fuel reduction treatments and supports communities to take action.

The plan assesses values at risk, such as safety, natural resource protection, recreation, scenic values and economic assets.

Through a collaborative process involving input from community members, resource management and firefighting agencies, CWPPs help bring wildfire hazard information, planning and action opportunities to all parties.

This plan will allow communities around Wailuku, Waikapu, Lahaina, Napili, Honokohau, Kahakuloa and Waihee to apply for federal funding for wildfire prevention and preparedness activities, such as public outreach and education, vegetation (fuels) management and wildfire suppression training.

'Many communities are developing disaster plans or long-range community plans, and the CWPP is meant to complement those plans. It will be a useful tool for community members to help make West Maui's neighborhoods and natural areas fire-safe,' explained Chief Murray."

Above: Attendees of the signing event, including Chief Murray and Wayne Ching at the table.

West Maui Community Wildfire Protection Plan Formalized

Amazing work by all of our partners and community members who made this thing happen! Couldn't have made it possible without you.

From the Source: 

"Starting today, the community of West Maui will be included in a Community Wildfire Protection Plan.

Officials from the Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety, the Maui Civil Defense agency, and State Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife will sign the agreement during a ceremony today.

The plan is a tool used as a prerequisite for receiving federal funding for wildfire protection projects.  It also assists the community in identifying and prioritizing areas for vegetation management, public outreach, and fire suppression training.

Areas covered by the Western Maui Community Wildfire Protection Plan include Wailuku, Waikapū, Lahaina, Nāpili, Honokōhau, Kahakuloa, and Waihe‘e.

The plan was developed in partnership between the West Maui Fire Task Force and the nonprofit Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization. Collaborators within the West Maui Fire Task Force include: the state Department of Land and Natural Resources – Division of Forestry and Wildlife and Division of Aquatic Resources; the Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety, the Maui County Department of Public Works, the Maui Planning Department and GIS Division, the West Maui Mountains Watershed Partnership, the Ridge to Reef Initiative, Maui Pineapple Company’s Pu‘u Kukui Preserve, the Maui County Mayor’s Office, and Maui Land and Development Company.

In developing the plan, six community meetings were held where the public, agencies, and other interested parties provided input relating to wildfire concerns, recommended actions, and projects to prevent and prepare the region for wildfires.

'Many communities are developing disaster plans or long-range community plans, and the CWPP is meant to complement those plans,' said Maui Fire Chief Jeffrey Murray.  'It will be a useful tool for community members to help make West Maui’s neighborhoods and natural areas fire-safe,' he said."

Above: Credit - Wendy Osher

Public Input Sought for West Maui Community Wildfire Protection Plan

The buzz for the West Maui Community Wildfire Protection Plan community meetings this month keeps building!

From the Source:

"Lance De Silva, Maui forest management supervisor with the state Department of Land & Natural Resources' Division of Forestry and Wildlife, emphasized that a CWPP isn't just another federal study.

'A CWPP is a community-based 'roots' process to outline wildfire risks to a community and to catalyze projects that can reduce those risks. In West Maui, we need to reduce our risks from mauka to makai. This is an important opportunity for communities to have a say over the priorities in the plan and to seek funds for the wildfire mitigation projects that residents themselves identify. Invest your time to protect your investments.'

Elizabeth Pickett, Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization executive director, said 'CWPPs are meant to tie into existing or planned projects. Many communities are developing disaster plans or long-range community plans, and the CWPP is meant to complement those plans.

'It will be a useful tool for community members to help make West Maui's neighborhoods and natural areas fire-safe. Wildfires tie into many natural resource, municipal and community issues, so this is an important opportunity for communities to learn, have their voices heard and get involved.'"